City profile · New Hampshire · Census ACS 2023

Dover, NH

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Dover - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

33,070
Residents
$92,748
Median income
$398,500
Median home
$2,194
Median rent (state)

Dover - the verdict

Nationally, Dover sits in the 73rd percentile for household income and the 71st percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

73rd
percentile, household income
77th
percentile, home value
86th
percentile, median rent
71st
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Dover, NH

33,070 people live in Dover, New Hampshire - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Dover households earn a median of $92,748 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.0%. Dover's housing stock carries a median value of $398,500, and the median resident age is 37.6 years. About 49.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 68.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 513 residential building permits were authorized in Dover (Building Boom), up 179% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Dover reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 833.9 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

New Hampshire carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New Hampshire scores 104.2 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,194 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $307 across New Hampshire, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 18.1 minutes, with 71.6% driving alone and 17.6% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 64.1 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

33,070 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Hampshire

Median Household Income

$92,748 /yr

Poverty 4.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

104.2 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Hampshire average

How does Dover compare to other US cities?

Here's how Dover stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 73% higher than other cities
Home value 77% pricier than other cities
Median rent 86% pricier than other cities
Safety 71% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at New Hampshire, Dover ranks #23 of 53 New Hampshire cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Dover against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New Hampshire only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New Hampshire-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Dover toward the top of New Hampshire's cities

Among the 94 New Hampshire cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Dover ranks #16 - the 83rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Dover only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#20 of 92
78th percentile in New Hampshire
Median Gross Rent
#12 of 100
80th percentile in New Hampshire
Median Home Value
#16 of 94
83rd percentile in New Hampshire
Poverty Rate
#46 of 99
54th percentile in New Hampshire
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#21 of 100
79th percentile in New Hampshire

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within New Hampshire only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

73rdIncome percentile
71stSafety percentile

73rd percentile nationally for median household income · 71st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Dover's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Dover's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 54 Avg. percentile National median
Dover's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Dover's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$398,500 23rd percentile more affordable than 23% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Dover $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Dover, NH Dover, NH's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Dover, NH-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Dover, NH median $92,748/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Dover, NH's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Dover, NH. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 49.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 68.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
33,070
Median Income
$92,748
Median Home Value
$398,500
Median Age
37.6
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Labor force participation
68.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
49.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
833.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
47.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
786.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
32,000 residents33,000 residents34,000 residents35,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 32,790 residents 34,623 residents ▲ +5.6%
Dover's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
513
housing units authorized
Single-Family
82
detached homes
Multifamily
431
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
15.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 184
2020 102
2021 98
2022 96
2023 253
2024 513

Permit volume increased 179% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.1 minutes
Drive Alone
71.6%
Carpool
4.9%
Public Transit
2.4%
Walk
2.2%
Work from Home
17.6%
Other
1.3%

Based on 19,245 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New Hampshire - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$105
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$307
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New Hampshire state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New Hampshire state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Dover sits in

Cost of Living Index
104.2
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,194/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
64.1 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Hampshire

Rochester
32,866 people
Keene
22,923 people
Portsmouth
22,332 people
Concord
44,219 people
Derry
21,668 people
Laconia
16,982 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Dover's 33,070 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bethel Park, PA
33,070 people
Franklin, MA
33,067 people
Salisbury, MD
33,080 people
East Lake, FL
33,019 people
Martinez, GA
33,019 people
Helena, MT
33,126 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Dover's $92,748 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Swan Valley, ID
$92,750 median income
Godfrey, IL
$92,746 median income
Bonanza, OR
$92,750 median income
Arnot, PA
$92,750 median income
Oak Ridge town (Kaufman County), TX
$92,750 median income
Wadesville, IN
$92,745 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Dover, NH Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Dover, NH - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.4% 6.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.7% White 87.4% Black or African American 1.3% Asian 3.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.4% Two or more races 6.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Dover compares to nearby New Hampshire cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Dover (this city) 33,070 $92,748
Rochester 32,866 $79,388
Keene 22,923 $78,183
Portsmouth 22,332 $105,756
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NH FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Dover, NH?

What is the population of Dover, NH? +

Dover, NH has a population of 33,070 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Dover, NH? +

In Dover, the typical household earns $92,748 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Dover? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Dover; the closest available measure is the New Hampshire state average, a cost of living index of 104.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New Hampshire vary by metro area.

Is Dover, NH safe? +

Dover has a total crime rate of 833.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Dover, NH? +

Homes in Dover carry a median value of $398,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.