Compare towns
Dover vs Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Dover
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 kids (26% under 18).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
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 | Goffstown | Hooksett | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
18,513Highest |
15,057 |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest 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% |
83.4% 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% |
9.4%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Goffstown and Dover 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. |
$113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% 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. |
$1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Goffstown 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% |
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% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA |
| 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 | 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.