Compare towns
Brookline vs Dorset vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dorset | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
2,092Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 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 | $171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| 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 64% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Bow 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.