Compare towns
Dover vs Somersworth vs Wilder vs 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).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Eliot has the most homeowners (79.8%).
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 | Somersworth | Wilder | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
12,111 |
3,087Lowest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Wilder 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% |
19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Somersworth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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 17% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| 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±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23k 4% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 14% above U.S. |
$1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Eliot 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Somersworth School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Somersworth High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.