Compare towns
Dover vs Kingston vs Sunapee
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%).
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
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 | Kingston | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,275 |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Sunapee and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Kingston 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% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Sunapee 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 |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Kingston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Kingston 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 |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee 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 |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.9Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.