Compare towns
Dover vs New Boston vs Hooksett vs Keene
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).
New Boston has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Hooksett has the oldest population (median age 41.3).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | New Boston | Hooksett | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,165Lowest |
15,057 |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Hooksett and New Boston 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% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene 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% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| New Boston 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 8% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% 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 | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Keene 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% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | New Boston School District | Hooksett School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 12.3Lowest |
| 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.