What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Hampden has the most homeowners (85.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Hampden
People
Population	33,364Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.
	Hampden and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden 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 U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover and Hampden 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.	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Hampden 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 31% above U.S.	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Dover and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Dover School District	RSU 22
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.