Compare towns
Rochester vs Hooksett vs Barrington 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
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Hooksett | Barrington | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,144 |
15,057 |
9,489Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 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 | $80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Hooksett and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Hooksett School District | Barrington School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | — | 12.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.