Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton Falls vs Wells vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hampton Falls has the most people working from home (21.8%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | Hampton Falls | Wells | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,328 |
11,713 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
| Wells and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Wells 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 17% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Newington and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Hampton Falls School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.