Compare towns
Bolton vs Hooksett vs Dover vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Bolton | Hooksett | Dover | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,930 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31k 154% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Dover 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Hooksett School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.