Compare towns
Dorchester vs Hooksett vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Dorchester | Hooksett | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
15,057Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Dorchester and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.