Compare towns
Dover vs Plymouth vs Canterbury
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%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,969 |
2,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$89,500±$32kLowest 10% below NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
| Canterbury 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±$20k 8% above NH |
$294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH |
$443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH |
| Canterbury and Dover 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 |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,483Lowest about the NH average |
$7,421 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | 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.