Compare towns
Hooksett vs Wolfeboro vs Dover
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 highest household income ($118k).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Wolfeboro | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
6,571Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett 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 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Dover 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.