Compare towns
Jackson vs Bow 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
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Jackson | Bow | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897Lowest |
8,335 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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 | $117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Bow and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Jackson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 31% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Jackson 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jackson School District | Bow School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.