Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Westminster 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 most homeowners (95.1%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Westminster | Bow | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
2,999Lowest |
8,335 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 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. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| 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±$70 17% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below 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. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as 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. |
24 minLowest 10% 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% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT | #26 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Bow School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.