Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton vs Deerfield
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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
16,426 |
4,932Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Deerfield 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 4% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
| Hampton and Dover 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 |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$7,369 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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 NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #61 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Deerfield School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
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| 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.