Compare towns
Hooksett vs Bow vs Durham 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hooksett | Bow | Durham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876Lowest |
8,335 |
15,080Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Bow and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Durham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.