Compare towns
Dover vs Wilder vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
South Eliot has the most homeowners (79.9%).
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 | Wilder | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,087Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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 17% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$99,299±$9kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$475,600±$52kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and South Eliot 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.

