Compare towns
Grafton vs Hooksett vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k 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 | Grafton | Hooksett | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354 |
15,057Highest |
916Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.5±12.9Highest about the NH average |
| Dalton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±11.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.3 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22k 18% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$81,429±$36kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23k 34% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163 17% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$900±$825Lowest 40% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239 21% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±83.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dalton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Grafton and Hooksett 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.