Compare towns
Milford vs Dover vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Milford | Dover | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337 |
33,364Highest |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Milford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Dover School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Dover Senior High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.7 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.