Compare towns
Hanover vs Dover vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Dover | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
33,364Highest |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.