Compare towns
Chatham vs Dover vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Shelburne has the most affordable homes ($280k median).
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 | Chatham | Dover | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
33,364Highest |
530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
50.3±11Highest 16% above NH |
| Shelburne and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chatham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Shelburne and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4%±4.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$93,125±$18k 6% below NH |
| Dover and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$280,200±$45kLowest 30% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,130±$62Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$3,801 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | — |
| High school 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.