Compare towns
Dover vs Center Harbor vs Grantham
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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Center Harbor | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
955Lowest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Grantham and Dover 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% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$106,403±$54kHighest 7% above NH |
| Grantham and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Dover 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 |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Dover and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Grantham 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 | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.