Compare towns
Dover vs Bedford vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Bedford | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
23,746 |
8,479Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
| Bedford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Hanover 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Bedford School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Bedford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.