Compare towns
Wilder vs Dover vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wilder | Dover | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
33,364Highest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 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.