Compare towns
Eliot vs Holderness vs Lee 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).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Holderness | Lee | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,917Lowest |
4,576 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Dover 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness 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% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Lee 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. |
$107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Lee and Holderness 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. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
— | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Dover 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Holderness School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.