Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hooksett vs Atkinson vs Bow
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%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Atkinson | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,267 |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Atkinson 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 |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Atkinson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Hooksett and Bow 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson 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% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Atkinson 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| 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.