Compare towns

Dover vs Eliot vs Norwich vs Stratham

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).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).

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.

MeasureDoverEliotNorwichStratham
People
Population
33,364Highest
7,146
3,640Lowest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
Eliot and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Stratham 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%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Norwich 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
17% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
Stratham and Norwich 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.
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
$1,460±$322Lowest
3% above U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Stratham 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.
$9,781
214% 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%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham and Norwich 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 #19 of 133 in ME #1 of 70 in VT #43 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Norwich School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School None in town None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
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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.