Compare towns
Dover vs Franconia vs South Hampton
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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Franconia | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,060 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Franconia and South Hampton 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% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Dover 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% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Franconia 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 |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Dover 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 |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Dover 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% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and South Hampton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Lafayette Regional School District | South Hampton 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.