Compare towns
Peru vs Hooksett vs Ripton 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
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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.
| Measure | Peru | Hooksett | Ripton | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
15,057Highest |
508 |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% 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% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest 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% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% 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. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% 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% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.