Compare towns
Dover vs Eliot vs Hanover vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Eliot | Hanover | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,146 |
11,685 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.