Compare towns
Amherst vs Bow vs Dunbarton vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Amherst | Bow | Dunbarton | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
8,335 |
3,097Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Amherst and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Dunbarton School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.