Compare towns
Eliot vs Dover vs Hancock
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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hancock has the most homeowners (85.6%).
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 | Dover | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
33,364Highest |
1,791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hancock 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. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22kLowest 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. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,208±$650Lowest 15% below 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dover School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.