Compare towns
Dover vs Meredith vs Hampton
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%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k 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 | Meredith | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,758Lowest |
10,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
| Meredith and Hampton 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Hampton 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Hampton 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 4% below NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
| Hampton 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 |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
| Hampton and Meredith 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 |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.