Compare towns
Somersworth vs Hooksett vs Hampstead 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 affordable homes ($318k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Dover has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Somersworth | Hooksett | Hampstead | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
15,057 |
9,102Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 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 | $74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.7Highest |
| 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.