Compare towns
Dayton vs Hooksett vs Saco
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 kids (20.4% under 18).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Saco has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,313Lowest |
15,057 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5 8% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco 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% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% 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±$34kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Saco and Hooksett 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. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Dayton 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 | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | Hooksett School District | Saco Public Schools |
| 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.