Compare towns
Dover vs Holderness vs South Eliot
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%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Holderness | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,917Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and South Eliot 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% |
31.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
| Holderness and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,068±$385 46% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Holderness 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. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,442 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Dover 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and South Eliot 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Holderness School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.

