Compare towns
Dover vs Salisbury vs Tuftonboro
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%).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Tuftonboro has the most expensive homes ($462k median).
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 | Salisbury | Tuftonboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,609Lowest |
2,569 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
51.9±7.5Highest 20% above NH |
| Tuftonboro and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Tuftonboro 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% |
24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±6.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Tuftonboro and Salisbury 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% |
37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$100,574±$16k about the NH average |
| Salisbury and Tuftonboro 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 |
$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH |
$462,300±$46kHighest 15% above NH |
| Tuftonboro 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 |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,311±$358Lowest 12% below NH |
| Salisbury 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 |
$5,859 12% below NH |
$3,004Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
6.5%±28.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.3%±8.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.