Compare towns
Hooksett vs Dover vs Merrimack
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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Merrimack has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
33,364Highest |
28,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Dover 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% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 19% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
| Merrimack 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 |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
| Merrimack 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 |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hooksett 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Dover School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.