Compare towns
Acton vs Bow vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Acton | Bow | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
8,335Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Bow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Acton and Hooksett 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 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Bow School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.