Compare towns

Dover vs Goffstown vs Hooksett

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 expensive homes ($1340k median).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).

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.

MeasureDoverGoffstownHooksett
People
Population
5,930Lowest
18,513Highest
15,057
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.9±2.3Highest
15% above U.S.
41.3±3.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
Dover and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Goffstown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
84.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
$113,958±$12kLowest
41% above U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
303% above U.S.
$377,400±$20kLowest
13% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,917±$2kHighest
106% above U.S.
$1,231±$161Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
Dover 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.
$6,941
123% above U.S.
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Goffstown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
34.2%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #1 of 282 in MA #35 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH
School district Dover · Dover-Sherborn Goffstown School District Hooksett School District
High school in town Dover-Sherborn Regional High Goffstown High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
12.6Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.