Compare towns
Dover vs Sullivan vs Stratham
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%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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 | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
687Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Sullivan and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.