Compare towns
Dover vs Surry vs Westmoreland
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 renters (47.3% rent).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Surry | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,052Lowest |
2,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
55.3±2.2Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry 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% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Westmoreland and Surry 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% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Surry 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±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$104,444±$28k 5% above NH |
| Surry and Westmoreland 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 |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$351,800±$12k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,354±$280Lowest 9% below NH |
| Surry 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 |
$6,384Lowest 4% below NH |
$6,643 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Surry 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% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Surry 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 | — | Westmoreland 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.