Compare towns
Bow vs Hooksett vs Needham vs Pembroke
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 homeowners (87.5%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% 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 | Needham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
15,057 |
32,459Highest |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
| Needham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%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% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest 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±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% 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% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Pembroke 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 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 |
28 minHighest 5% 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% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Hooksett School District | Needham | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Needham High | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 11.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.