Compare towns
Eliot vs Barnstead vs Jaffrey vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Eliot | Barnstead | Jaffrey | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,994Lowest |
5,448 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
42.9±3.9 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$92,330±$18kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
$6,196 99% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #111 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Barnstead School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 21.3Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.