Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Hooksett vs Pelham
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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Hooksett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
11,685Lowest |
15,057 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
| Pelham 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover 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% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Hanover and Pelham 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Hanover 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Pelham 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.7 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.