Compare towns
Hooksett vs Bow vs Plaistow vs Bristol
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 highest household income ($173k).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k 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 | Hooksett | Bow | Plaistow | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876 |
8,335Highest |
7,861 |
3,273Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average |
| Bristol and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol and Hooksett 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 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 | $101,053±$25k about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32k 14% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,310±$97Lowest 12% below NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960 26% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Bristol 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hooksett 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.