Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton vs South Hampton
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).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
16,426 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Hampton 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 |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | South Hampton 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 |
— |
| 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.