Compare towns
Bow vs Hooksett vs Jay vs Suncook
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 (+10.6%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% rent).
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 | Jay | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
15,057Highest |
471Lowest |
5,432 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
37.9±8.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Jay 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Suncook 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±3.3 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest 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% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.6 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±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$79,836±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$361,100±$22k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,091±$317Lowest 23% 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,975 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suncook 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Hooksett School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.