Compare towns
Eliot vs Lee vs Hooksett vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Eliot | Lee | Hooksett | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,576Lowest |
15,057 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Lee and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Dover 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #3 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.