Compare towns
Dover vs Hooksett vs Wardsboro
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%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
15,057Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wardsboro and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6k 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,479±$224 5% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wardsboro and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Hooksett 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Hooksett School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.