Compare towns
Brookline vs Dover vs Dunbarton 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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Dover | Dunbarton | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
33,364Highest |
3,097Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 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+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Dover 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 |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% 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±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% 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 | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Brookline and Dover 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Dover School District | Dunbarton School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.