Compare towns
Albany vs Dover vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Albany has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Albany | Dover | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790Lowest |
33,364Highest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±9.7 7% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.8%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,639±$19kLowest 32% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
| Kingston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,300±$68kLowest 38% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| Kingston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$112Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Dover and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,554Lowest 62% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.2%±97.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.2%±18.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Albany 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.