Compare towns
Bow vs Strafford vs Hooksett vs Brookline
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).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Strafford | Hooksett | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
4,306Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Brookline 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 |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
| Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Strafford School District | Hooksett School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.