Compare towns
Windham vs Hampton 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
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).
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 | Hampton | Brookline | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
16,426Highest |
5,736Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest 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 | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% 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 |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% 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 |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Brookline School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.