Compare towns
Lee vs Dover vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($366k 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 | Lee | Dover | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
33,364 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Manchester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Lee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Lee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
| Dover and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.