Compare towns
Hampton vs Plymouth vs Dover
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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426 |
6,601Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Plymouth 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above 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 |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.