Compare towns

Dover vs Bellows Falls vs Stratham

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).

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.

MeasureDoverBellows FallsStratham
People
Population
33,364Highest
2,891Lowest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
41.3±6.7
6% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Highest
7% above U.S.
Stratham and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Bellows Falls 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%
23.7%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bellows Falls and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below U.S.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$195,600±$35kLowest
41% below U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,038±$109Lowest
27% below U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$4,448Lowest
43% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
43.9%±16.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham 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 120 in NH
School district Dover School District — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
— —
On TownTapestry
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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.