Compare towns
Stoddard vs Brookline 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
Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Bow has the shortest commute (27 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 | Stoddard | Brookline | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072Lowest |
5,736 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 22% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest 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+ | 24.4%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest 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 | $94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% 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 | $330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% 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 | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Brookline School District | 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 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.