Compare towns

Hooksett vs Dedham vs Dover

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).

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.

MeasureHooksettDedhamDover
People
Population
15,057
25,237Highest
5,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
44.9±2.3Highest
15% above U.S.
Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
26%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
84.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±2.7
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
$117,962±$11kLowest
46% above U.S.
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
303% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Lowest
18% above U.S.
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
$2,917±$2kHighest
106% above U.S.
Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
$7,918
154% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
11% above U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
34.2%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #119 of 282 in MA #1 of 282 in MA
School district Hooksett School District Dedham Dover · Dover-Sherborn
High school in town None in town Dedham High Dover-Sherborn Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Highest
9.8Lowest
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.