Compare towns
Carlisle vs Hooksett vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carlisle has the most people working from home (38.5%).
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 | Carlisle | Hooksett | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,239Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 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 | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Dover and Hooksett 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. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle 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 | #24 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carlisle | Hooksett School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.