Compare towns
Rochester vs Hooksett vs Berwick vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Berwick has the most kids (22.7% 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 | Berwick | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,144 |
15,057 |
8,175Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| 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 3% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 71% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Hooksett School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | 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 |
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.