Compare towns
Hooksett vs Dover vs Needham vs Barrington
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 the most renters (19.4% rent).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Barrington has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Dover | Needham | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
2,308Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Needham 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% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hooksett 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 46% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Needham 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | — | — | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.