Compare towns
Bow vs Auburn vs South Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Bow | Auburn | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
6,119 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% 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 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
| Bow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Auburn School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.