Compare towns
Dover vs Hooksett vs Bolton vs Needham
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 highest household income ($250k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Bolton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
15,057 |
5,737 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Bolton 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 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. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31k 154% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Needham 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Nashoba | Needham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Nashoba Regional | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.