Compare towns
Windham vs Brookline vs North Hampton 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Brookline has the most homeowners (95.1%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
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 | North Hampton | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
5,736 |
4,543Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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 | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$146,458±$29kLowest 48% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% 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 |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Windham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% 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 |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Bow 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% |
2.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Brookline School District | North Hampton School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | 12.8 |
| 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.