Compare towns
Hooksett vs Gilford vs Dunbarton
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%).
Gilford has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k 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 | Gilford | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,830 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Gilford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Dunbarton 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% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$116,635±$11kLowest 18% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
| Dunbarton 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 |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Dunbarton 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% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford and Hooksett 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 | #45 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Gilford School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gilford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
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| 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.