Compare towns
Hooksett vs Canterbury vs Dover
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%).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Canterbury | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
2,353Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Hooksett 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% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Canterbury and Hooksett 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 |
$443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Canterbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Shaker Regional School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.