Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Rye vs Hooksett vs Goffstown
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 homeowners (95.1%).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Dunbarton | Rye | Hooksett | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
5,611 |
15,057 |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
| Rye and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,231±$161 17% below NH |
| Rye 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown 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% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Rye School District | Hooksett School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.