Compare towns
Alton vs Concord 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
Alton has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
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.
| Measure | Alton | Concord | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Lowest |
44,375Highest |
33,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Concord and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Alton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Concord High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.0Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.