Compare towns
Dayton vs Hooksett vs Buxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dayton has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | Dayton | Hooksett | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,313Lowest |
15,057Highest |
8,512 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5 8% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Buxton and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dayton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buxton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,200±$34k 20% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$356,800±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872 24% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dayton and Hooksett 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | Hooksett School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.