Compare towns
Williston vs Hooksett vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Williston | Hooksett | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
15,057Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hooksett School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.