Compare towns
Dover vs Rochester vs Lebanon
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 the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Rochester | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
33,144 |
14,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Rochester and Lebanon 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% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Rochester 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% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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±$7k 4% below NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
| Lebanon 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 |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Rochester 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
66%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Rochester School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Spaulding High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
13.2Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.