Compare towns
Vinalhaven vs Dover vs Boothbay Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vinalhaven has the most homeowners (86.6%).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Boothbay Harbor has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Vinalhaven | Dover | Boothbay Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,216Lowest |
33,364Highest |
2,096 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 65.1±3.9Highest 67% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
63.8±4.7 64% above U.S. |
| Vinalhaven and Boothbay Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Boothbay Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 50.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
47%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Vinalhaven and Boothbay Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Boothbay Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,963±$11k 10% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$62,800±$13kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,400±$44k 29% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$400,600±$49kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Dover and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$924Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,058±$123 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,598 15% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$2,808Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±41.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±17.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boothbay Harbor and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 46% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Vinalhaven 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Boothbay-Boothbay Hbr CSD |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | Boothbay Region High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
8.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.