Compare towns
Hooksett vs Sandown 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).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Sandown | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
6,628 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest 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% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% 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 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional 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.