Compare towns

Hooksett vs Weare 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%).
Weare has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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.

MeasureHooksettWeareBow
People
Population
15,057Highest
9,170
8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+3.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
45.6±4Highest
5% above NH
41.5±2
4% below NH
Weare 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%
22.4%±4
NH: 18.2%
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
Bow and Weare 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%
13.5%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
17.6%±2.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
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
NH: 40.6%
41.2%
NH: 40.6%
60.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
4.3%±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±$11kLowest
19% above NH
$118,271±$17k
19% above NH
$172,857±$16kHighest
75% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26k
about the NH average
$396,300±$26kLowest
about the NH average
$506,500±$34kHighest
26% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Highest
11% above NH
$1,541±$214
3% above NH
$1,539±$178Lowest
3% above NH
Hooksett and Weare 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
$6,272Lowest
6% below NH
$9,584Highest
44% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4
NH: 48.2%
62.2%±24.6Highest
NH: 48.2%
39%±13.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Weare 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%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
2.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
87.5%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1985Lowest
6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
36 minHighest
34% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
22.7%±4.7
NH: 16.8%
Weare 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 #84 of 120 in NH #26 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District Bow School District
High school in town None in town John Stark 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.