Compare towns
Windham vs Methuen vs Hooksett vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Methuen | Hooksett | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
53,475Highest |
15,057 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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 135% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| 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 117% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Methuen | Hooksett School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Methuen High | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.