Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hooksett vs Bow vs New Durham
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 oldest population (median age 48).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Hooksett | Bow | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
15,057Highest |
8,335 |
2,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
46.5±7.5 7% above NH |
| Dunbarton and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest 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% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
23.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Durham 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$100,194±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$339,400±$27kLowest 16% below NH |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,417±$116 5% below 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,774Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
25%±42.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
94% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 30% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
10%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Hooksett School District | Bow School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | 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.