Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Nelson vs Hooksett
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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Nelson | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
648Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$117,962±$11k 19% 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Nelson School District | Hooksett School District |
| 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 |
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.