Compare towns
Hooksett vs Needham vs Dover vs Goffstown
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Needham | Dover | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
32,459Highest |
5,930Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goffstown and Needham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham 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. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,941 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Needham | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.