Compare towns
Lee vs Dover vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
33,364Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Lee 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 63% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| 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 44% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| 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 14% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dover and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.