Compare towns

Hooksett vs Bow vs Goffstown vs South 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 (+10.6%).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).

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.

MeasureHooksettBowGoffstownSouth Hooksett
People
Population
15,057
8,335
18,513Highest
5,902Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%
NH: +4.6%
+5.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
41.5±2Highest
4% below NH
41.3±3.1
5% below NH
35.2±3.6Lowest
19% below NH
Bow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9
NH: 18.2%
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
16%±2.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
16.3%±3.9
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
17.6%±2.5
NH: 20.1%
19%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.5%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Goffstown and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
60.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.8%
NH: 40.6%
37.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9Lowest
NH: 6%
14.5%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
14.3%±0.8
NH: 6%
Goffstown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
$172,857±$16kHighest
75% above NH
$113,958±$12kLowest
15% above NH
$130,000±$15k
31% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26k
about the NH average
$506,500±$34kHighest
26% above NH
$377,400±$20kLowest
6% below NH
$433,200±$40k
8% above NH
Bow and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Highest
11% above NH
$1,539±$178
3% above NH
$1,231±$161Lowest
17% below NH
$1,471±$217
about the NH average
Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554Lowest
about the NH average
$9,584Highest
44% above NH
$6,941
4% above NH
$6,801
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4
NH: 48.2%
39%±13.2
NH: 48.2%
58.1%±20Highest
NH: 48.2%
36.1%±25Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Goffstown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
2.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
6.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
87.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.7%
NH: 72.8%
82.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1982Lowest
3 yrs newer than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
27 min
about the NH average
28 minHighest
4% above NH
26 minLowest
about the NH average
Work from home
13.4%±3.1
NH: 16.8%
22.7%±4.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.8%±2.2
NH: 16.8%
7.1%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #26 of 120 in NH #35 of 120 in NH —
School district Hooksett School District Bow School District Goffstown School District —
High school in town None in town Bow High School Goffstown High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
12.6Lowest
—
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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.