Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton vs Lee
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%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Lee has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
16,426 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Lee 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% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
| Lee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% 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 | $8,249 24% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 photos → |
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.