Compare towns
Sullivan vs Dover vs Nelson vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Sullivan | Dover | Nelson | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 687 |
33,364Highest |
648Lowest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
| Sullivan and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
| Surry and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Surry and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.