Compare towns
Bow vs Hooksett vs Pittston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Pittston has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
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 | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
5,876 |
3,093Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
42.6±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Pittston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 114% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$86,614±$18kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32k 5% above U.S. |
$238,700±$66kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,080±$593Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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 207% above U.S. |
$4,960 59% above U.S. |
$1,909Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittston 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Hooksett 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 | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bow School District | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.