Compare towns
Dover vs Hooksett vs Stoneham vs Weston
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 people working from home (34.2%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k median).
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 | Stoneham | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
15,057 |
23,355Highest |
11,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
44.9±2.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
26%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham and Weston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3% 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% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Weston 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. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% 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. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 409% above U.S. |
| Weston 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. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,085±$809 48% above U.S. |
| Dover and Weston 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. |
$6,523Lowest 109% 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% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weston and Stoneham 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% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Weston 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #9 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Hooksett School District | Stoneham | Weston |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Stoneham High | Weston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
10.9Highest |
| 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.