Compare towns
Dover vs Sunapee vs Canaan
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%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Sunapee | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,416Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Canaan 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan 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±$7k 4% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
| Sunapee 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 |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Dover and Sunapee 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 |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Sunapee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Canaan 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Sunapee School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.9 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.