Compare towns
Plaistow vs Bow vs Hanover 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 most kids (25% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
8,335 |
8,479 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
17.6%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%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% |
49.8%±2.5Highest 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 |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Bow and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| 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% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older 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 29% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Bow 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Bow School District | — | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Bow High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.