What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

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	Jackson
People
Population	33,364Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+26%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH	60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2%	4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Lowest NH: 40.6%	67.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Dover and Jackson 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	$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH
	Jackson 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 8% above NH	$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH	$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH
	Jackson 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	$6,001Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2%	21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Dover and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 15% below NH	19 minLowest 31% below NH
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Jackson 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	—
School district	Dover School District	Jackson 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

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.