Compare towns
Hooksett vs Bow vs Keene vs Pelham
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 highest household income ($173k).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Keene | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
8,335Lowest |
22,939Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Bow 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 |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Bow 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Bow School District | Keene School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Keene High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.