Compare towns
Dover vs Nelson vs Gilsum
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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Nelson | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
648Lowest |
716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
44.8±8.1Highest 3% above NH |
| Gilsum and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Gilsum 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH |
| Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,575±$894 6% above NH |
| Dover and Gilsum 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$5,579 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Nelson School District | Monadnock Regional 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.