Compare towns

Norwich vs Hooksett vs Dorset

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).

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.

MeasureNorwichHooksettDorset
People
Population
3,640
15,057Highest
2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
45.9±7.5Highest
18% above U.S.
Dorset and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dorset and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
72.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$111,250±$40kLowest
38% above U.S.
Norwich and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$569,200±$57k
71% above U.S.
Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,420±$296Lowest
about the U.S. average
Hooksett and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
$7,489
140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
22 min
18% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dorset and Norwich 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 #1 of 70 in VT #30 of 120 in NH —
School district Norwich School District Hooksett School District Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
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

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.