Compare towns
Dover vs Hartford vs Kensington
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Hartford | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,736 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Kensington 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% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Kensington 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% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hartford 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. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Hartford School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.