Compare towns
Hooksett vs Dover vs Plaistow
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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% 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 | Dover | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
5,930Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Dover and Hooksett 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Plaistow 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plaistow 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest 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±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Dover and Plaistow 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.