Compare towns
Dover vs Sandwich vs Rollinsford
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).
Sandwich has the oldest population (median age 63.6).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k 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 | Sandwich | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,757Lowest |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
63.6±2.8Highest 47% above NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
7%±3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Highest 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% |
46.6%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
63.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Sandwich 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 |
$140,694±$22kHighest 42% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$437,700±$79kHighest 9% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Sandwich and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,679±$1k 13% above NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
| Rollinsford and Sandwich 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 |
$4,494Lowest 33% below NH |
$6,851 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.4%±41.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandwich and Dover 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
36.1%±16.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandwich 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 |
| School district | Dover School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Rollinsford 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.