Compare towns
Dover vs Epping vs Hampstead vs Hooksett
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Epping | Hampstead | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
7,430 |
9,102 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dover and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Epping School District | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.