Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Hillsborough
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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
11,685 |
5,980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hillsborough 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% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hillsborough 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.7 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.