Compare towns
Hudson vs Bow vs Nashua vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hudson | Bow | Nashua | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
8,335Lowest |
91,294Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.9%±1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Nashua and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 about the NH average |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,799 about the NH average |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Nashua and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #67 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Bow School District | Nashua School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Bow High School | Nashua High School South | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.