Compare towns

Dover vs Bethlehem vs Wilmington

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Bethlehem has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Wilmington has the oldest population (median age 59.1).

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.

MeasureDoverBethlehemWilmington
People
Population
1,466Lowest
2,537Highest
1,747
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+20.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.5±8.3
38% above U.S.
50.6±8.5Lowest
30% above U.S.
59.1±4.8Highest
52% above U.S.
Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.2%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
9.6%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bethlehem and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
32.6%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
$85,029±$18kHighest
5% above U.S.
$70,000±$23k
13% below U.S.
Bethlehem and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,900±$55kHighest
about the U.S. average
$288,300±$22k
13% below U.S.
$287,700±$16kLowest
14% below U.S.
Dover and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$670±$49Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,174±$81Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,106±$95
22% below U.S.
Bethlehem and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510Lowest
45% above U.S.
$5,418Highest
74% above U.S.
$5,299
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.3%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±23
U.S.: 51.1%
Bethlehem and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
74%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
21 min
19% below U.S.
Work from home
23.2%±11.1
U.S.: 15.1%
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bethlehem 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 — #34 of 120 in NH —
School district River Valleys Unified School District #73 Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town None in town Profile Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.