Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton vs Wells
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 youngest population (median age 36.9).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
16,426 |
11,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wells 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 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. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| 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±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| 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 164% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Winnacunnet High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.