Compare towns

Dover vs Ossipee vs Fairlee

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%).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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.

MeasureDoverOssipeeFairlee
People
Population
1,466
4,521Highest
1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.5±8.3
38% above U.S.
50±4.6Lowest
29% above U.S.
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.2%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.2%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Ossipee and Fairlee 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%
26.3%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Fairlee 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%
24.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee and Ossipee 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.
$90,521±$22kHighest
12% above U.S.
$74,760±$10k
7% below U.S.
Ossipee and Fairlee 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
$325,500±$23k
about the U.S. average
$274,200±$39kLowest
18% below U.S.
Dover and Ossipee 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.
$1,601±$245Highest
13% above U.S.
$1,083±$242
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510
45% above U.S.
$4,401Lowest
41% above U.S.
$5,617Highest
80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±16.3
U.S.: 51.1%
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
23.2%±11.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Fairlee 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 — #100 of 120 in NH —
School district River Valleys Unified School District #73 Governor Wentworth Regional School District Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.