Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Holderness vs Plymouth
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).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Holderness | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
11,685 |
1,917Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Holderness and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Holderness 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
54% 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% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Hanover and Plymouth 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 |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Hanover and Holderness 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hanover and Holderness 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Holderness School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.