Compare towns
Bow vs Northfield vs Dunbarton vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bow | Northfield | Dunbarton | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
4,971 |
3,097Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
| Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Dunbarton School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.