Compare towns
Bow vs Hooksett vs Pembroke vs Walpole
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 (+10.6%).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k 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 | Pembroke | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
15,057Highest |
7,438 |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
| Walpole and Pembroke 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pembroke 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 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 |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| 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 44% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole 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 NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
25 min 8% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Hooksett School District | Pembroke School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.