Compare towns
Deerfield vs Dover vs Hooksett vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Deerfield | Dover | Hooksett | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
33,364Highest |
15,057 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| 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 | $131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
| Lee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 11% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Dover School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
NH 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.