Compare towns
Pembroke vs Hooksett vs Durham vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Pembroke | Hooksett | Durham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438Lowest |
15,057 |
15,080Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Pembroke and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Bow and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589 14% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Durham 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | None in town | Oyster River High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.