Compare towns
Dover vs Newfields vs Salem
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Newfields | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,023Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Newfields and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Salem 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Newfields School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.