Compare towns
Derry vs Bow 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
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Derry | Bow | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
8,335Lowest |
33,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Bow and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Bow School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Bow High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.8 |
12.7Lowest |
| 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.