Compare towns
Dover vs Hooksett vs Chilmark vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($348k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Carlisle has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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 | Dover | Hooksett | Chilmark | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
5,876Highest |
1,578Lowest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.6±8.1Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
| Chilmark and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest 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+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chilmark and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hooksett 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. |
$101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$168,750±$28k 109% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,811±$283 28% above U.S. |
$2,750±$2kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Chilmark 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. |
$4,960 59% above U.S. |
$4,485Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Up-Island Regional | Carlisle |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.