Compare towns
Dover vs Bristol vs Webster
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%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Bristol | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,273 |
2,227Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Webster and Bristol 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% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol and Webster 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% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Bristol 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 4% below NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH |
| Webster and Dover 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 |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,310±$97Lowest 12% below NH |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
| Dover and Webster 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 |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Webster 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Newfound Area School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Newfound Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.