Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton Beach vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Carlisle has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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 | Dover | Hampton Beach | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
2,605 |
5,239Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,115Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | — | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Carlisle |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.