Compare towns

Brookline vs Whiting 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 the most people working from home (24.7%).
Whiting has the most affordable homes ($280k 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.

MeasureBrooklineWhitingBow
People
Population
5,736
532Lowest
8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.2±1.5
6% above U.S.
39.6±2.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.5±2Highest
7% above U.S.
Bow and Brookline 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%
23.5%±6.9Lowest
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%
13%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bow and Whiting 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%
25.9%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%
6.2%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Whiting 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.
$91,250±$38kLowest
13% 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.
$280,400±$36kLowest
16% below U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
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
77% above U.S.
$1,204±$519Lowest
15% 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.
$4,227Lowest
36% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.3%±37.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Whiting 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%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
65.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
24.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #26 of 120 in NH
School district Brookline School District Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Bow School District
High school in town None in town None in town Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.