Compare towns

Hampstead vs Dover vs Hooksett

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).

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.

MeasureHampsteadDoverHooksett
People
Population
9,102
1,466Lowest
15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
53.5±8.3Highest
38% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
Dover and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
29.5%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dover and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,348±$18k
39% above U.S.
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$521,100±$45kHighest
57% above U.S.
$332,900±$55kLowest
about the U.S. average
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,299±$149
8% below U.S.
$670±$49Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$4,510Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±20.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1984Lowest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
21%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
23.2%±11.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Hampstead 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 #49 of 120 in NH — #30 of 120 in NH
School district Hampstead School District River Valleys Unified School District #73 Hooksett School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.