The Town FilesDover, New Hampshire
City in Strafford County · population 32,741 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $436,700
- Household income
- $94,829
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 36.9
Dover is a city of 32,741 people in Strafford County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $436,700, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks more walkable than 95% of New Hampshire towns, better for young professionals than 95% of New Hampshire towns, more vibrant than 95% of New Hampshire towns.
How Dover ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dover is worth $436,700, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $94,829, which is more affordable than 18% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,607 a month. 52.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dover | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $436,700 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,607 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $94,829 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 52.7% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Dover
| People | Dover | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.0% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 92.5% |
Weather in Dover
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 14.8°F. About 47.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.9 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dover since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 3, 1976 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 1978.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 19, 2015.
Severe weather in Strafford County since 1996
Strafford County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| June 8, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4371: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4209: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Strafford County
Strafford County had 46,517 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,687 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Dover itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Dover
6 public schools with 3,899 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover Senior High School | 9-12 | 1,418 | 13.3 |
| Dover Middle School | 5-8 | 972 | 14.3 |
| Woodman Park School | PK-4 | 444 | 12.3 |
| Frances G. Hopkins Elementary School at Horne Street | K-4 | 413 | 14.2 |
| Garrison School | K-4 | 364 | 12.1 |
| Seacoast Charter School (charter) | PK-8 | 288 | 13.7 |
Towns near Dover
- Rollinsford, NH3.1 mi · 2,597 people · home $398,100
- Durham, NH3.7 mi · 11,147 people · home $498,000
- Somersworth, NH4.6 mi · 11,855 people · home $318,400
- Durham, NH5.1 mi · 15,490 people · home $504,300
- South Berwick, ME5.3 mi · 3,825 people · home $396,700
- South Eliot, ME5.8 mi · 3,719 people · home $475,600
- Eliot, ME6.2 mi · 6,717 people · home $498,900
- South Berwick, ME7.3 mi · 7,467 people · home $428,300
Dover questions
Is Dover, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dover scores better for retirees than 41% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 6%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Dover?
The median owner-occupied home in Dover is valued at $436,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,829, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,607 a month.
What is the weather like in Dover?
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 14.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.8 inches of precipitation a year and 38.9 inches of snow.
Does Dover get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dover since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 3, 1976. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)