Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Rochester 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).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Rochester | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
33,144Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Rochester 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% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Rochester 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% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$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 |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Rochester 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett and Dunbarton 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Rochester School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2 |
— |
| 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.