What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Sullivan has the most homeowners (85.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Sullivan
People
Population	33,364Highest	1,246Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.	47.1±15Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sullivan and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sullivan 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 U.S.: 17.2%	22.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S.	$59,643±$14kLowest 26% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S.	$222,000±$33kLowest 33% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.	$883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.	$2,228Lowest 29% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.9%±23.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dover and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover and Sullivan 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	RSU 24
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	Sumner Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	10.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.