Compare towns

Hampstead vs White River Junction 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 kids (21.3% under 18).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).

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.

MeasureHampsteadWhite River JunctionDoverHooksett
People
Population
9,102
3,364Lowest
33,364Highest
15,057
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±6.1Highest
16% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
36.9±1.9
5% below U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
Hampstead and Hooksett 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%
17.1%±5
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
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%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampstead and Hooksett 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%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
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
$112,348±$18k
39% above U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above 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.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,299±$149
8% below U.S.
$1,222±$216Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover and Hampstead 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%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
21%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampstead 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 #49 of 120 in NH — #64 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH
School district Hampstead School District — Dover School District Hooksett School District
High school in town None in town — Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.7
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.