Compare towns
Dover vs Acton vs Rollinsford
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 renters (47.3% rent).
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Acton | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,721 |
2,626Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
38.8±5.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rollinsford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$89,500±$26k 11% above U.S. |
| Dover and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$398,100±$33k 20% above U.S. |
| Dover and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
— | $1,809±$394Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Rollinsford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$6,851 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Acton Public Schools | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.