Compare towns
Dover vs Epsom vs Mason
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%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Epsom | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,939 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| Epsom and Mason 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% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Epsom 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% |
20.7%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epsom and Dover 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% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Epsom 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 |
$97,941±$13k about the NH average |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
| Mason and Epsom 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 |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason 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 |
$6,210Lowest 7% below NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Epsom 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Epsom School District | Mason 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.