Compare towns
Dover vs Sullivan vs Rochester
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 people working from home (18.6%).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Rochester has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Sullivan | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
687Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Sullivan and Rochester 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% |
16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester 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% |
20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan and Rochester 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% |
28.5% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Rochester 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 |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Sullivan 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±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$279,100±$10k 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$5,334 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Rochester 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
| 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.