Compare towns
Hampstead vs Wilder 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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Hampstead | Wilder | Dover | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
3,087Lowest |
33,364Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Wilder 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% 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. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% 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% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 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% |
9.3%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% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 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. |
17 minLowest 37% 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% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 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.