Compare towns
Dover vs Middlesex vs Calais vs Concord
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k 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 | Middlesex | Calais | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
1,943 |
1,713Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
40.7±1.3 5% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Dover 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dover and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$7,227 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Dover 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | — | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | — | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.