Compare towns
Rochester vs Lebanon 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
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Lebanon has the most homeowners (96.8%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k 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 | Rochester | Lebanon | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
6,629Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
39.6±5.8 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lebanon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$97,750±$11kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$324,800±$23k about the U.S. average |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
— | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 71% above U.S. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Lebanon 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #87 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | 12.7Lowest |
| 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.