Compare towns
Dover vs Auburn vs South Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Auburn | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,119 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Auburn and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Auburn School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.