Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Bow vs Townsend vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Townsend has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Townsend | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,902Lowest |
8,335 |
9,100 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Bow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 61% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| 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±$217 4% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801 118% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bow School District | North Middlesex | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.