Compare towns

Bow vs Hooksett vs Windsor

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 people working from home (22.7%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k 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.

MeasureBowHooksettWindsor
People
Population
8,335
15,057Highest
2,060Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.6±12.3Highest
15% above U.S.
Windsor 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%
21.1%±8.8
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Windsor 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%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
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%
1.2%±1.4Lowest
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.
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$170,300±$22kLowest
49% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,002±$107Lowest
29% 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.
$4,878Lowest
56% 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%
31.4%±20Lowest
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%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 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
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #26 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH #61 of 70 in VT
School district Bow School District Hooksett School District —
High school in town Bow High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
— —
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.