Compare towns
Sullivan vs Milford vs Dover 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).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Milford | Dover | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 687Lowest |
16,337 |
33,364Highest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Surry and Sullivan 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% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 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 |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$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 |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Dover and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Surry and Milford 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 |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest 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 | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Surry 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 | — |
| School district | — | Milford School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Milford High School | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.