Compare towns
Dover vs Hooksett vs Lyndeborough 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Hooksett | Lyndeborough | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
15,057 |
1,616Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 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±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hooksett School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 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.