Compare towns
South Hampton vs Bow vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | South Hampton | Bow | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
8,335Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| South Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest 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+ | 16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest 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 | $152,500±$44kLowest 54% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% 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 | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Bow School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.