Compare towns

Dover vs Wolfeboro 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%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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.

MeasureDoverWolfeboroFairlee
People
Population
1,466
6,571Highest
1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.5±8.3Lowest
38% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
56.2±8.7
44% above U.S.
Wolfeboro and Fairlee 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%
13.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.2%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Wolfeboro and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Wolfeboro and Fairlee 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee and Wolfeboro 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.
$94,375±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
$74,760±$10k
7% below U.S.
Wolfeboro 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±$55k
about the U.S. average
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
$274,200±$39kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$670±$49Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,103±$76Highest
22% below U.S.
$1,083±$242
23% below U.S.
Wolfeboro and Fairlee 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.
$4,531
45% above U.S.
$5,617Highest
80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee and Dover 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%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
23.2%±11.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Wolfeboro 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 — #46 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 Kingswood Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
—
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.