Compare towns
Dover vs Concord vs Salem
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%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).
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 | Concord | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364 |
44,375Highest |
30,964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Concord 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% |
17.2%±1.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Concord 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% |
18.7%±1.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Concord and Salem 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% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Concord 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 |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| Salem 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±$20k 8% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Dover 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 |
$7,227 8% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Salem 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% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Salem 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Concord High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
13.0Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.