Compare towns
Dover vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Lebanon
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 youngest population (median age 36.9).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Epping | Hooksett | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,430Lowest |
15,057 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Epping and Hooksett 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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Lebanon 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Epping and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Dover 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Lebanon 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Epping High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.