Compare towns
Hooksett vs New Ipswich 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%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | New Ipswich | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
5,310 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,507±$9kLowest 12% 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±$26k about the NH average |
$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 22% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett and Dunbarton 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
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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.