What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most homeowners (85.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampden	Dover
People
Population	7,896Lowest	33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Hampden and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.	$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Hampden and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.
	Dover and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME	#64 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 22	Dover School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	12.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.