What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belfast	Dover
People
Population	6,986Lowest	33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.6±3.1Highest 56% above U.S.	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.
Kids under 18	14.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dover and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.1%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,679±$9kLowest 16% below U.S.	$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$34kLowest about the U.S. average	$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$962±$92Lowest 32% below U.S.	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,145Lowest 33% above U.S.	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±14.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dover and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below U.S.	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	12%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover and Belfast 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	#84 of 133 in ME	#64 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 71	Dover School District
High school in town	Belfast Area High School	Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.