What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Penobscot has the most homeowners (84.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Penobscot
People
Population	33,364Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.	53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Penobscot and Dover 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%	32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S.	$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S.	$296,400±$58kLowest 11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.	$1,141±$33Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.	$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Penobscot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover and Penobscot 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	—
School district	Dover School District	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.