Compare towns
Hampstead vs Townsend 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
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Hampstead | Townsend | Bow | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
9,100 |
8,335Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | $112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% 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 | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | North Middlesex | Bow School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.