Compare towns

Somersworth vs Hooksett 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

Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).

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.

MeasureSomersworthHooksettDover
People
Population
12,111
5,876Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+27.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.4±2.7
11% below NH
42.6±2Highest
about the NH average
36.9±1.9Lowest
15% below NH
Hooksett and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.7%±3.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8
NH: 18.2%
Somersworth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.7%±3.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
41.4%
NH: 40.6%
52%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2Lowest
NH: 6%
6.2%±3.7Highest
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
$101,053±$25kHighest
about the NH average
$94,829±$7k
4% below NH
Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
$348,100±$32k
14% below NH
$436,700±$20kHighest
8% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,477±$134Lowest
about the NH average
$1,811±$283Highest
21% above NH
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,805
about the NH average
$4,960Lowest
26% below NH
$8,249Highest
24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±14.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
46%±20.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3
NH: 48.2%
Somersworth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.8%
NH: 72.8%
72.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below NH
29 minHighest
9% above NH
23 minLowest
15% below NH
Work from home
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
14.4%±4.6
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
Dover and Hooksett 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 #117 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH
School district Somersworth School District — Dover School District
High school in town Somersworth High School — Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
—
12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.