Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Hooksett 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
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Hopkinton | Hooksett | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,037Lowest |
15,057Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hopkinton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Hooksett School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
— | 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.