Compare towns

Dover vs New Boston vs Eliot

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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
New Boston has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).

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.

MeasureDoverNew BostonEliot
People
Population
33,364Highest
6,165Lowest
7,146
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
38.8±3.4
about the U.S. average
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
27.2%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and New Boston 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
17% above U.S.
$154,250±$25kHighest
91% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$481,100±$59k
45% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
Eliot and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,193±$111Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$8,181
162% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
22.8%±20.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot 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
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.2%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
New Boston 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 #21 of 120 in NH #19 of 133 in ME
School district Dover School District New Boston School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Dover Senior High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.