Compare towns
Dover vs Hooksett vs Wilmington
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 most kids (17.4% under 18).
Wilmington has the most affordable homes ($288k 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 | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
59.1±4.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.6%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilmington and Dover 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% 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% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$70,000±$23k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$287,700±$16kLowest 14% 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. |
$1,106±$95 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,299 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Wilmington 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±6Lowest 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| 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.