Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hampton vs Bow vs Manchester
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%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% 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 | Hampton | Bow | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
10,101 |
8,335Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hampton 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 |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Hampton 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | — | Bow School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bow High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.