Compare towns
Dover vs Hooksett vs Salem vs Chilmark
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).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
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 | Salem | Chilmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
15,057 |
30,964Highest |
1,578Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
53.6±8.1Highest 38% 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%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Hooksett 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% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% 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% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest 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±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$168,750±$28k 109% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,750±$2kHighest 95% above 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$4,485Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Chilmark 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Salem School District | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.