Compare towns
Bow vs Bristol 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
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Bristol | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
3,273Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Bristol 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% |
24.3%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol and Bow 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% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest 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 | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,310±$97Lowest 12% 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 | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Newfound Area School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Newfound Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| 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.