Compare towns

Peru vs Hooksett vs Dorset vs Ripton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).

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.

MeasurePeruHooksettDorsetRipton
People
Population
434Lowest
15,057Highest
2,092
508
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±8.6
16% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
45.9±7.5
18% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
Ripton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
8.5%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
Dorset and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
72.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,875±$83kHighest
88% above U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$111,250±$40kLowest
38% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
Peru and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$400,000±$105k
20% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$569,200±$57kHighest
71% above U.S.
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,271±$820Lowest
10% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,420±$296
about the U.S. average
—
Hooksett and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$7,489Highest
140% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
18% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Dorset and Ripton 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 — —
School district — Hooksett School District Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.