Compare towns
Dover vs Rollinsford vs Thornton
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 renters (47.3% rent).
Rollinsford has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Thornton has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Rollinsford | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,626Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rollinsford 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% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
| Dover and Thornton 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 |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Dover and Rollinsford 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 |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Rollinsford 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 |
$6,851 about the NH average |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Rollinsford School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | 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.