Compare towns
Windham vs Lee 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Bow has the oldest housing (typical home built 1985).
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 | Windham | Lee | Hooksett | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
4,576Lowest |
15,057 |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Lee and Bow 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Bow 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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 | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
— | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.