Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton vs Rochester
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).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
16,426Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester 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% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Rochester 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 |
$95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Hampton 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±$20k 8% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Winnacunnet High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
10.1Lowest |
13.2Highest |
| 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.