Compare towns
Suncook vs Mason vs Hooksett vs Bow
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 most renters (40.5% rent).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Mason | Hooksett | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,432 |
1,451Lowest |
5,876 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Mason 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Bow 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Bow 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% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$101,053±$25k about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,100±$22k 10% below NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,811±$283 21% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Mason and Hooksett 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 |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±21.7 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.5%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Mason 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 | — | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Mason School District | — | Bow School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.