Compare towns
Dover vs Hooksett vs Salem
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 (+10.6%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
15,057 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Dover and Salem 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% 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. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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% |
5%Highest 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% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Hooksett School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.