Compare towns
Brookline vs Lee vs Strafford 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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Bow has the most renters (12.5% rent).
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 | Lee | Strafford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
4,576 |
4,306Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Strafford and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Strafford 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% 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 |
— | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Brookline and Strafford 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 10 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.