Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hampstead vs Dunbarton vs Goffstown
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%).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Hampstead | Dunbarton | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
9,102 |
3,097Lowest |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead 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%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% 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±$26k about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Hampstead and Dunbarton 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 |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,231±$161 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District | Dunbarton School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.