Compare towns
Durham vs Hooksett vs Hanover vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hooksett | Hanover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
15,057 |
11,685Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
20 min 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Hanover High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.