Compare towns
Webster vs Bow vs Hooksett vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Webster | Bow | Hooksett | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,227 |
8,335 |
15,057Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
| Salisbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest 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 | $107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
| Salisbury and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 10% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 14% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Bow 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 | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Bow School District | Hooksett School District | Merrimack Valley 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 History | 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.