Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hollis vs Bow 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 the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Hollis has the most people working from home (29%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Hollis | Bow | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
8,603 |
8,335Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest 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% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis 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% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$168,883±$22k 71% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Bow and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Hooksett and Hollis 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis and Pelham 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | Bow High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
12.8Highest |
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.