Compare towns

Norwich vs Bow vs Hooksett

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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.

MeasureNorwichBowHooksett
People
Population
3,640Lowest
8,335
15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.5±2Highest
7% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
Bow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kLowest
46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322Lowest
3% above U.S.
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
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 221% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Norwich 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 #1 of 70 in VT #26 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH
School district Norwich 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

U.S. 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.