Compare towns
Mason vs Hooksett vs Bow vs Wilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Wilton has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Mason | Hooksett | Bow | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
5,876 |
8,335Highest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
46.8±5.2Highest 8% above NH |
| Wilton and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
22%±6.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4 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 | $111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$114,349±$21k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$381,500±$23k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,811±$283 21% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,382±$70Lowest 7% below NH |
| Mason and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 6% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,612 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
77% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Mason 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 | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | — | Bow School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bow High School | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.