Compare towns
Hooksett vs Kingston 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 the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Kingston | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
6,275Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Bow and Kingston 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 |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% 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 | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Kingston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.