Compare towns
Brentwood vs Bow vs Mason
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
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 | Brentwood | Bow | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,641 |
8,335Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| Brentwood and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
| Bow and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
| Brentwood and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654 49% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Bow School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | 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.