Compare towns
Hooksett vs Amherst 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Hooksett | Amherst | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
11,861 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Amherst and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Amherst and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Hooksett and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 22% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.