Compare towns
Bow vs Hooksett vs Royalton
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%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
15,057Highest |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Royalton 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Royalton 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. |
$103,938±$24kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% 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. |
$4,675Lowest 50% 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% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest 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% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bow School District | Hooksett School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.