Compare towns
Hooksett vs Epping vs Bow vs Goffstown
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 the most renters (19.4% rent).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Epping | Bow | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
7,430Lowest |
8,335 |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Epping and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Goffstown 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Bow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Goffstown 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Bow School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Bow High School | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.