Compare towns
Brookline vs Sutton vs Lee 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%).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Sutton | Lee | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
9,452Highest |
4,576Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kLowest 63% 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±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Sutton 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. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— | $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. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #3 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Sutton | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.