Compare towns
Weare vs Hooksett vs Dunbarton vs Goffstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
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 | Weare | Hooksett | Dunbarton | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
15,057 |
3,097Lowest |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,231±$161 17% below NH |
| Hooksett and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 min 25% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #84 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Hooksett School District | Dunbarton School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.6Highest |
| 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.