Compare towns
Franklin vs Dover vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most homeowners (76.8%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Franklin | Dover | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
33,364Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.4±3 12% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Mars Hill 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% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mars Hill and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16k 19% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$65,273±$9kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 37% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 28% below U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Franklin 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
8.0Lowest |
| 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.