Compare towns
Dover vs Lyndeborough vs Mapleton vs Eliot
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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k 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 | Lyndeborough | Mapleton | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,616Lowest |
1,884 |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lyndeborough 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 14% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Eliot 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 | — | — | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | 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 | 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.