Compare towns
Dover vs Strafford vs Litchfield
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%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | Strafford | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,306Lowest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Litchfield 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% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Dover 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% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Strafford 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 |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,273Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Strafford 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Litchfield 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Strafford School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.