Compare towns
Brookline vs Bedford vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k 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 | Brookline | Bedford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
23,746Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 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+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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 | $171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$167,418±$12kLowest 69% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% 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 | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Brookline and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Bedford School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.