Compare towns
Hooksett vs Walpole 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
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 | Walpole | Bow | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
3,690Lowest |
8,335 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole 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% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Bow 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 |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bow School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.