Compare towns
Stow vs Dover vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most homeowners (96.2%).
Dover has the highest household income ($95k).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Stow | Dover | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 535 |
33,364Highest |
378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.5±8.6 43% above U.S. |
| Stow and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.2%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$50,833±$31k 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$42k about the U.S. average |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$209,700±$30kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,304 6% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$1,478Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
80%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±12 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Stow 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | — |
| High school 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 | 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.