Compare towns
Dover vs Wilmot vs Rye
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%).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Wilmot | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,487Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Wilmot 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% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Wilmot 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 |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye 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 |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Rye 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% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Rye 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.