Compare towns
Hooksett vs Dover vs Pelham vs Manchester
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($366k 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.
| Measure | Hooksett | Dover | Pelham | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
33,364 |
14,449Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
| Pelham 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%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Pelham 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±$26k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Dover School District | Pelham School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Pelham High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
10.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.