Compare towns
Hampton vs Dover vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Hampton | Dover | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Lowest |
33,364Highest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dover School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Dover Senior High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.7 |
13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.