Compare towns
Dover vs Hancock vs Springfield
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%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Hancock | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,791 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Hancock and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Hancock 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% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Hancock 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 |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
| Springfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Dover and Hancock 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 |
$6,884 3% above NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Hancock 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% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Springfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.