Compare towns
Bethel vs Dover vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the most people working from home (27.7%).
Dover has the highest household income ($95k).
Hanover has the most homeowners (91.8%).
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 | Bethel | Dover | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,617 |
33,364Highest |
276Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.2±6.4 29% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
53.3±10.3Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±12.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethel and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$23k 27% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$55,417±$52kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $344,900±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$334,500±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $864±$43Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,835 9% below U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$2,492Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.3%±15.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.7%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25%±19.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethel and Hanover 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 | #49 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 44/MSAD 44 | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | Telstar High School | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.