Compare towns
Hooksett vs Madison 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Madison has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Madison | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
2,680Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Madison and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Madison 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% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Madison 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±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 |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Hooksett and Madison 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 |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% 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 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Madison 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 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.