Compare towns
Dover vs Derry vs Lyme
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%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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 | Derry | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364 |
34,116Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Derry 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% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Derry 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 |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Derry 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— |
| 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.