Compare towns
Dover vs Springfield vs Canterbury
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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Springfield | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,122Lowest |
2,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
| Springfield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Canterbury 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%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Springfield 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% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury 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±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
| Canterbury and Springfield 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 |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
$443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH |
| Canterbury 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 |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | — | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | 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.