Compare towns
Dover vs Milford vs Pembroke
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%).
Milford has the highest household income ($98k).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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.
| Measure | Dover | Milford | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
16,337 |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Pembroke and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Pembroke 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% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Milford 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 |
$97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Milford 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±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Dover and Milford 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 |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Milford 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 |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Pembroke 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Milford School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Milford High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
10.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.