What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).

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	Lancaster	Dover
People
Population	3,216Lowest	33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH	36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH
	Lancaster and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%	16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	52%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%	6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6%
	Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH	$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH
	Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH	$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH	$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH	$8,249Highest 24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%	48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH	1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Dover and Lancaster 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	#107 of 120 in NH	#64 of 120 in NH
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	Dover School District
High school in town	None in town	Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.