Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hooksett vs Mason
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Mason has the most people working from home (20.7%).
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 | Dunbarton | Hooksett | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
15,057Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| Dunbarton and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,049 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Hooksett School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.