What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Merrimack has the most homeowners (88.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Merrimack
People
Population	33,364Highest	28,164Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH	41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2%	22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1%	16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest NH: 40.6%	50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Dover and Merrimack 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	$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH	$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH
	Merrimack and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,249Highest 24% above NH	$7,345Lowest 10% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2%	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Dover and Merrimack 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%	3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 15% below NH	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Merrimack 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	#58 of 120 in NH
School district	Dover School District	Merrimack School District
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	Merrimack High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.