Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Norwich vs Bow vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Norwich | Bow | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
3,640 |
8,335 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Bow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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 | $124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above 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 | $8,233 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #26 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Norwich School District | Bow School District | Hooksett 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.