Compare towns
Brookline vs Epping vs Hooksett 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%).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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 | Epping | Hooksett | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Brookline 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 |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% 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 |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$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 |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Brookline and Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Hooksett 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 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.