Compare towns
Bow vs Hooksett vs Douglas
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 most kids (25% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
15,057Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest 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. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Bow 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bow School District | Hooksett School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| 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.