What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Holbrook has the most homeowners (84%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Holbrook
People
Population	33,364Highest	11,380Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.	42.8±3.2Highest 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Holbrook and Dover 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%	19.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Holbrook 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover and Holbrook 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 17% above U.S.	$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S.
	Holbrook and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S.	$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S.
	Holbrook and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.	$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Dover and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.	$6,105Lowest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.8%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dover and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#64 of 120 in NH	#234 of 282 in MA
School district	Dover School District	Holbrook
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	Holbrook Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.