Compare towns
Windham vs Brookline vs Bow vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Brookline has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Windham | Brookline | Bow | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
5,736Lowest |
8,335 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 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 | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
$167,418±$12kLowest 69% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
| Windham and Brookline 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Brookline School District | Bow School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Bow High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.