Compare towns
Dover vs Gilsum vs Nelson
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%).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Gilsum | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
716 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
44.8±8.1Highest 3% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Gilsum and Nelson 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% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Gilsum 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 |
$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
| Nelson and Dover 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 |
$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,575±$894 6% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Dover and Gilsum 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 |
$5,579 16% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum 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% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Nelson 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.