Compare towns
Dover vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Pelham | Hooksett | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
14,449Lowest |
15,057 |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
40% 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% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below 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 |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 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 | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7% 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% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Pelham High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 12.3 |
| 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.