Compare towns
Dover vs Hooksett vs Chilmark vs Wellesley
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 homeowners (97.9%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Wellesley has the youngest population (median age 37.1).
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 | Chilmark | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
15,057 |
1,578Lowest |
30,347Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
53.6±8.1Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below 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 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Wellesley 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
89%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$168,750±$28k 109% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$1,582,700±$49k 376% above U.S. |
| Chilmark and Wellesley 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. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,750±$2k 95% above U.S. |
$2,886±$360 104% above U.S. |
| Dover and Wellesley 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. |
$4,485Lowest 44% 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% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wellesley 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
32%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Wellesley 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 | — | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Hooksett School District | Up-Island Regional | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.