Compare towns
Plaistow vs Bow vs Durham 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
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Plaistow | Bow | Durham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
8,335 |
15,080Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% 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 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Bow and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Bow High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.3 |
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| 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.