Compare towns
Dover vs Lancaster vs Troy
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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Troy has the most homeowners (77.2%).
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 | Lancaster | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,216 |
2,005Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
40.2±5 7% below NH |
| Lancaster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.2%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Troy and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$88,871±$14k 10% below NH |
| Dover and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$266,600±$39k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,024±$331 31% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,229 22% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.1%±27.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Troy 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
77.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.