Compare towns
Dover vs Mason vs Loudon
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%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Loudon has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Mason | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,451Lowest |
5,692 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Loudon 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% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
29.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
| Mason and Loudon 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 |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$363,400±$48kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
| Mason 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 |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$5,821Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
30 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | — | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Mason School District | Merrimack Valley 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.