Compare towns
Auburn vs Bow vs Hanover 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
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Auburn | Bow | Hanover | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
8,335 |
11,685 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Auburn and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Bow and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hanover 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Bow School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.