Compare towns
Bow vs Hooksett vs Barrington
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 highest household income ($173k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Barrington has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Hooksett | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
5,876Lowest |
9,489Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
42.6±2Highest about the NH average |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Hooksett 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% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Barrington 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% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett 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% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,811±$283 21% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Hooksett 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 |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Barrington 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Barrington 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.