Compare towns

Bow vs Sutton vs Windham vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).

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.

MeasureBowSuttonWindhamBrookline
People
Population
8,335
9,452
16,038Highest
5,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.2±1.5
6% above U.S.
Sutton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$16k
114% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kLowest
82% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$171,046±$4k
112% above U.S.
Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$544,400±$38k
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$2,500±$1k
77% above U.S.
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$6,763Lowest
117% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1993
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
12% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #105 of 282 in MA #13 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Sutton Windham School District Brookline School District
High school in town Bow High School Sutton High School Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.6Lowest
12.8Highest
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U.S. 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.