Compare towns
Brookline vs Strafford vs Bow vs Hopkinton
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%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Strafford | Bow | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
4,306Lowest |
8,335Highest |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
| Strafford and Hopkinton 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 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% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton 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% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton 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 |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% 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 |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
| Brookline and Hopkinton 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±$178 3% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below 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 |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Hopkinton 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Hopkinton 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Strafford School District | Bow School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| 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.