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Living in
Dover.
About
Life in Dover
Dover feels like a solid mid-sized city that's grown steadily without losing its New England character. The job market is stable with low unemployment around 2.3%, and the median household income of about $95,000 puts you in reasonable shape for the region, though housing costs reflect that—median home values sit around $436,700 and rent averages $1,607 per month. If you're working here or commuting to Boston via Amtrak's Downeaster service or the intercity bus lines, your average commute is just under 22 minutes, which is manageable.
Dover at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.3%
Foreign-Born
6.0%
Broadband Internet
95.4%
of households
Population Growth
+5.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.0% foreign-born, most often from Indonesia
Who lives in Dover: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Dover, the largest foreign-born group is from Indonesia (15.1%), and 1.9% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
16.9%
of residents
65 and Older
16.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.2%
of households
Married Couples
42.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.15
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 8% above NH average
Rent, home values, and income in Dover
In Dover, rent runs 8% above the NH average, and home values are 8% above the NH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,249
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $541,297 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below NH average
Unemployment in Dover
Unemployment in Dover is 0.8 percentage points lower than the NH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Dover Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.7 min avg
How Dover residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Dover, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM)
Regional airport · few flights91k passengers boarded in 2025
- 58 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 80% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Dover runs 80% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
64.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
573.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Dover Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
64.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Strafford County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Strafford County, which includes Dover, the most common type is winter storm, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2024 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Winter Storm | $133,000 |
| 2021 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 11 | Drought | $120,000 |
| 2019 | 7 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
| 2018 | 12 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Strafford County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Rockingham County, NH (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 18 miles from Dover) is typically good — 309 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
309
per year
Moderate Days
54
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Rockingham County, NH (18 mi away)
Climate78°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Dover has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.8"
Annual Snowfall
38.9"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
150
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
140
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 15°F | 3.38" |
| Feb | 36°F | 16°F | 3.52" |
| Mar | 43°F | 25°F | 4.39" |
| Apr | 55°F | 34°F | 4.20" |
| May | 66°F | 44°F | 3.80" |
| Jun | 75°F | 53°F | 4.28" |
| Jul | 81°F | 59°F | 3.76" |
| Aug | 80°F | 57°F | 3.43" |
| Sep | 72°F | 50°F | 3.86" |
| Oct | 60°F | 39°F | 4.79" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 3.95" |
| Dec | 38°F | 22°F | 4.47" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Dover
Dover has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Wentworth-douglass Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Wentworth-Douglass Hospital · 789 Central Ave
- Outpatient center: Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Outpatient Center · 67 Corporate Dr, Portsmouth
- Outpatient center: Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Outpatient Center · 67 Corporate Dr Bldg A, Portsmouth
- Outpatient center: Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Outpatient Center · 67 Corporate Dr Ste 300, Portsmouth
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Frisbie Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.4 mi away · Rochester
Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.8 mi away · Portsmouth
York Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.2 mi away · York
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education13.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Dover
Dover's student/teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 52.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Dover (within 15 miles)
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
4.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,261 students · in-state tuition $19,682 · 78% graduate · median earnings $71,477 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 1,259 students · in-state tuition $7,650 · 36% graduate · median earnings $54,240 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lowell National Historical Park, 43 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Dover
Dover has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lowell National Historical Park (43 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
43 mi awaySalem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
46 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
50 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
55 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
57 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
57 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
58 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
59 mi awayPublic Libraries in Dover
Dover Public Library
73 Locust Street, Dover
Cities Near Dover
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Dover?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Dover FAQ
Is Dover, New Hampshire affordable?⌄
Dover's median rent is $1,607/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $94,829/year. Median home value is $436,700.
Is Dover, New Hampshire safe?⌄
Dover's violent crime rate was 64 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 574 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Dover, New Hampshire?⌄
Dover has an unemployment rate of 2.4%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Dover, New Hampshire?⌄
The cost of living in Dover is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,607/month and median household income is $94,829/year. The median home value is $436,700. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Dover, New Hampshire?⌄
The average commute in Dover is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from