Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hampton vs Bow vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Dunbarton | Hampton | Bow | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
16,426Highest |
8,335 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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 | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hampton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.