Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton vs Hampton 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 has the most affordable homes ($545k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Hampton | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
10,101 |
16,426Highest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%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% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampton 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. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$6,813Lowest 118% 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% |
48.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Carlisle |
| High school in town | — | — | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.