Compare towns

Dover vs Bethlehem vs Rollinsford

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Rollinsford has the most homeowners (78.2%).

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.

MeasureDoverBethlehemRollinsford
People
Population
33,364Highest
2,537Lowest
2,626
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+2.8%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
15% below NH
50.6±8.5Highest
17% above NH
38.8±5.5
10% below NH
Bethlehem and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.7%±5.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.7%±4.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
28.2%±5.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±4.9
NH: 20.1%
Bethlehem 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
NH: 40.6%
45.1%
NH: 40.6%
41.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
NH: 6%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
NH: 6%
2.8%±1.5
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7kHighest
4% below NH
$85,029±$18kLowest
14% below NH
$89,500±$26k
10% below NH
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
8% above NH
$288,300±$22kLowest
28% below NH
$398,100±$33k
about the NH average
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±$100
8% above NH
$1,174±$81Lowest
21% below NH
$1,809±$394Highest
21% above NH
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
24% above NH
$5,418Lowest
19% below NH
$6,851
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.3%±18.3
NH: 48.2%
40%±26.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Dover and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
75.3%
NH: 72.8%
78.2%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
3 yrs older than NH
1973
6 yrs older than NH
1966Lowest
13 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below NH
20 minLowest
24% below NH
26 minHighest
about the NH average
Work from home
18.6%±2.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
31.2%±12.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
25.9%±8.8
NH: 16.8%
Bethlehem and Rollinsford 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 #34 of 120 in NH #94 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Rollinsford School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School Profile Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
8.9Lowest
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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.