Compare towns
Henniker vs Wells vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Wells | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
11,713 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Henniker and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Wells 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.