Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hanover vs Hooksett vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Goffstown | Hanover | Hooksett | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
11,685 |
15,057 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Hanover and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hooksett School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.