Compare towns
Hooksett vs Bristol vs Bow
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%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Bristol | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
3,273Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Bristol and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest 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+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol 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% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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 |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,310±$97Lowest 12% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol 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% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Newfound Area School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.