Compare towns
Dover vs Hooksett vs Goffstown vs Eliot
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 renters (47.3% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Goffstown | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
15,057 |
18,513 |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,941 123% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Eliot 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Hooksett School District | Goffstown School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Goffstown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.