Compare towns
Bennington vs Chichester 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
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Chichester has the highest household income ($109k).
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.
| Measure | Bennington | Chichester | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,745 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
43±3.3Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Chichester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Chichester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$109,297±$13kHighest 10% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Chichester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Chichester and Dover 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 | — | #75 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Chichester School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.