Compare towns
Walpole vs Bow vs Hooksett vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k 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 | Walpole | Bow | Hooksett | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690Lowest |
8,335 |
15,057Highest |
4,807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.4±2.6 19% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockingham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$70,857±$16kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$210,900±$14kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,062±$101Lowest 25% below 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 | $6,078 95% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,887Lowest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Rockingham 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bow School District | Hooksett School District | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.