Compare towns
Hooksett vs Bow vs Sutton vs Plaistow
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%).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Sutton | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
8,335 |
2,239Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest 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 | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Bow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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 |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Sutton 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 |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Bow School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.