Compare towns
Hooksett vs New Boston 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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
New Boston has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | New Boston | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
6,165 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett 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% |
44.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| New Boston and Dunbarton 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 |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and New Boston 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 |
$1,193±$111 20% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett 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% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | New Boston School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.