Compare towns
Dover vs Sunapee vs Hanover
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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,416Lowest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover and Sunapee 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Sunapee School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.