Compare towns
Dover vs Middlesex vs Walpole 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%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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.
| Measure | Dover | Middlesex | Walpole | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
1,943 |
3,690Highest |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Walpole 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$70,000±$23k 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$287,700±$16kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dover 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,106±$95 22% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Walpole 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
$5,299 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.