Compare towns
Madbury vs Hooksett vs Bow vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Madbury | Hooksett | Bow | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
15,057Highest |
8,335 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Bow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 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 | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Bow and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Bow and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 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 | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Plainfield 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | Bow School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.