Compare towns
Dover vs Hooksett vs Wilton
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Wilton has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Highest |
5,876 |
3,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.8±5.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Wilton 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% |
14.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilton 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% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$114,349±$21k 42% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$381,500±$23k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,811±$283 28% above U.S. |
$1,382±$70Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$7,612 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilton 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% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.