Compare towns
Dover vs Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Somersworth
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Hampstead | Hooksett | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
9,102Lowest |
15,057 |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead 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 |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.