Compare towns

Windham vs Bow vs Hooksett

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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.

MeasureWindhamBowHooksett
People
Population
16,038Highest
8,335Lowest
15,057
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.1±2.9Lowest
5% below NH
41.5±2Highest
4% below NH
41.3±1.5
5% 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
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
25%±3.6
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
17.6%±2.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4
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+
62.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
60.3%
NH: 40.6%
39.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6Highest
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
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
$172,857±$16k
75% above NH
$117,962±$11kLowest
19% above NH
Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
$506,500±$34k
26% above NH
$407,000±$26kLowest
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
$1,539±$178Lowest
3% above NH
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$9,584
44% above NH
$6,554Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
39%±13.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4
NH: 48.2%
Windham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
2.7%
NH: 7.2%
3.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
87.5%
NH: 72.8%
80.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
1985Lowest
6 yrs newer than NH
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
15% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
27 minLowest
about the NH average
Work from home
21.9%±4.4
NH: 16.8%
22.7%±4.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Bow and Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #26 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH
School district Windham School District Bow School District Hooksett School District
High school in town Windham High School Bow High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
12.8
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.