Compare towns
Dover vs Rockport vs South 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).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Rockport | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,675Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.7±3.7 25% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rockport 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% |
24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Rockport 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 17% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$469,000±$50k 41% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Rockport 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. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,764 85% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Rockport 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Rockport 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 | #8 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Camden Hills Regional H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.