Compare towns
Dover vs Chichester 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%).
Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Chichester | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,745 |
2,227Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
43±3.3 about the NH average |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Webster and Chichester 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% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Chichester 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% |
17.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Webster and Chichester 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% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Chichester 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 |
$109,297±$13kHighest 10% above NH |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
| Chichester and Webster 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 |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Dover and Chichester 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 |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester and Webster 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% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
31 minHighest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chichester and Dover 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Chichester School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | 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.