Compare towns
Gilford 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
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Gilford | Bow | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830Lowest |
8,335 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest 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 | $116,635±$11kLowest 18% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Bow and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% 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 | $4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Gilford 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 | #45 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Bow School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.