Compare towns
Suncook vs Bow vs Hooksett vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suncook has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Suncook | Bow | Hooksett | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,432Lowest |
8,335 |
15,057Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% 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%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,836±$25k 19% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,100±$22k 10% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,975 5% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±21.7 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Suncook 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Hooksett School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.