Compare towns
Hooksett vs Jay vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Jay | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
471Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Hooksett 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 46% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.