Compare towns
Dover vs Hopkinton vs Eliot vs Lebanon
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%).
Hopkinton has the highest household income ($137k).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Hopkinton | Eliot | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,037Lowest |
7,146 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45±2.8 16% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hopkinton 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lebanon 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% |
58.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon 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. |
$137,477±$21kHighest 70% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$506,900±$54kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,270±$129Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lebanon 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.8%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hopkinton School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hopkinton High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.0 |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.