Compare towns
Hooksett vs Dover vs South Eliot
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 highest household income ($118k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
33,364Highest |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Dover 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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 18% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and South Eliot 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 | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.