What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Boothbay Harbor has the oldest population (median age 63.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Boothbay Harbor
People
Population	33,364Highest	2,096Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.	63.8±4.7Highest 64% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	11.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dover and Boothbay Harbor 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%	47%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover and Boothbay Harbor 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.	$62,800±$13kLowest 22% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S.	$400,600±$49kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Dover and Boothbay Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.	$1,058±$123Lowest 25% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.	$2,808Lowest 10% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	79.3%±17.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.	14 minLowest 46% below U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover and Boothbay Harbor 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	—
School district	Dover School District	Boothbay-Boothbay Hbr CSD
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	Boothbay Region High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	8.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.