Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Bow vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | South Hooksett | Bow | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902Lowest |
8,335 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Bow and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,564±$37Highest 5% above NH |
| Manchester and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801 about the NH average |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.