What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Boothbay has the oldest population (median age 56.8).

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
People
Population	33,364Highest	3,102Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.	56.8±3.9Highest 46% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	11.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dover and Boothbay 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%	35.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover and Boothbay 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.	$60,320±$17kLowest 25% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S.	$342,100±$43kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.	$1,147±$121Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.	$2,202Lowest 29% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.4%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dover and Boothbay 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%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 4 yrs older than U.S.	1976 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.	13 minLowest 50% below U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#64 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Dover School District	—
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.