Compare towns
Amherst vs Hooksett vs Hollis 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
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Hollis | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
15,057Highest |
8,603 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Hollis 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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 |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$168,883±$22k 71% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Bow 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.8 |
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.