Compare towns

Eliot vs Hampton Falls vs Lebanon 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).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

MeasureEliotHampton FallsLebanonDover
People
Population
7,146
2,328Lowest
14,999
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% above U.S.
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
Eliot and Hampton Falls 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%
19.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
Hampton Falls and Dover 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%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Hampton Falls 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%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Lebanon and Dover 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.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$98,147±$10k
22% above U.S.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$385,400±$29kLowest
16% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,852±$475
31% above U.S.
$1,744±$132
23% above U.S.
$1,607±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
Eliot and Hampton Falls 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$8,149
161% above U.S.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2
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%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Lebanon and Hampton Falls 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 — #29 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Hampton Falls School District Lebanon School District Dover School District
High school in town None in town None in town Lebanon High School Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.7Lowest
12.7Highest
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.