Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Bow vs New Boston
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 most affordable homes ($433k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902Lowest |
8,335Highest |
6,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
| Bow and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$154,250±$25k 56% above NH |
| Bow and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
| Bow and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
| Bow and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and South Hooksett 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% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
88%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and New Boston 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bow School District | New Boston School District |
| High school 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 |
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.