Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plaistow 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%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Plaistow | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,861Lowest |
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±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Bow and Hooksett 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% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Plaistow 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% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.