Compare towns
Concord vs Salem 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
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).
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.
| Measure | Concord | Salem | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
30,964Lowest |
33,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Salem and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 18.7%±1.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Concord and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest 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 | $84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Salem and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Salem and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227 8% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Salem 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Salem School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Salem High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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.