Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Plymouth vs Concord
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).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Concord has the oldest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Plymouth | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
11,685 |
6,601Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
40.7±1.3Highest 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Concord 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Concord 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
6%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
23 minHighest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8 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 | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
13.0Highest |
| 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.