Compare towns
Dover vs Groton vs Sullivan vs Surry
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).
Groton has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Groton | Sullivan | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
507Lowest |
687 |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.1±16.2Highest 18% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
| Groton and Sullivan 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% |
15.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
29.4%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Groton and Surry 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% |
29.2% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Dover 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 |
$85,625±$21kLowest 14% below NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
| Surry and Sullivan 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 |
$269,000±$45k 33% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,667±$295Highest 79% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,955±$374 31% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$2,873Lowest 57% below NH |
$5,099 24% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
50%±83.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Groton 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% |
10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Surry 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 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.