Compare towns

Dover vs Hudson vs Derry

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%).
Hudson has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureDoverHudsonDerry
People
Population
33,364
25,557Lowest
34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+3.8%
NH: +4.6%
+3.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
15% below NH
45.7±1.9Highest
6% above NH
40.3±1.6
7% below NH
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8
NH: 18.2%
16.8%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
20.7%±2.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
Derry 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%
20.7%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Hudson 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
NH: 40.6%
34.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
37.4%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
NH: 6%
7%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
Hudson and Dover 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
4% below NH
$124,213±$6kHighest
25% above NH
$108,944±$7k
10% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20k
8% above NH
$438,900±$11kHighest
9% above NH
$432,000±$17kLowest
7% above NH
Hudson and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
$1,735±$123Highest
16% above NH
$1,547±$138Lowest
4% above NH
Hudson and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249Highest
24% above NH
$6,636Lowest
about the NH average
$8,103
22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
NH: 48.2%
34.3%±7.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
51.6%±9Highest
NH: 48.2%
Derry 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
NH: 7.2%
4.6%
NH: 7.2%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
70.2%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below NH
31 minHighest
18% above NH
31 min
16% above NH
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
NH: 16.8%
19.6%±3.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
16%±2.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hudson 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 #63 of 120 in NH #60 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District Hudson School District Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School Alvirne High School Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
11.6Lowest
13.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.