Dover, NH — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·New Hampshire·Dover

Strafford County · Boston-Cambridge-Newton · population 33,909

Investors
Dover, NH
Image: Wikipedia · Dover, New Hampshire
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
71
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Dover stands

At or near all-time high. averaging 7.4% annual growth over 5 years.

Median home $541,670
1-year +2.0%
5-yr CAGR +7.4%
vs 5-yr peak -0.3%
Population +0.9%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-02$542k$236k$346k$455k$565k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
87/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$2,250/mo$1,450$1,918$2,386202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent143146100120140202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 20.1
Lean rent

At a 20.1 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Dover. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
60 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
76 · w22%
Distance from peak
88 · w18%
Population growth
63 · w16%
Rent YoY
62 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
80 · w10%
Long thesis

Dover has averaged 7.4% annual appreciation over five years and the trend is still live (+2.0% in the last 12 months). When a momentum trade keeps working, the simplest explanation is usually correct: more people want in.

Short thesis

Dover's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Dover

Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, with an estimated population of 33,909. It anchors the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area. The population grew 0.9% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Dover is $541,670 as of 2026-04, up 2.0% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +7.4% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Dover average $2,250 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+2.6%). The composite momentum score is 71 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Healthy 5-year run: +7.4% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Quiet strength: +2.0% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Held the highs: currently -0.3% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Dover (Wikipedia)

Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 32,741 at the 2020 census, making it the most populous city in the New Hampshire Seacoast region and the fifth most populous city in New Hampshire.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Strafford County right now.

NWS active alerts (NH)New Hampshire Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Strafford County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Dover

Laconia, NH75 · RisingSomersworth, NH74 · RisingRochester, NH76 · RisingManchester, NH68 · Rising

Run the numbers for Dover

ToolCan I afford Dover?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Dover rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Dover to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolDover cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
31° / 13°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
80° / 58°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
197
~54% of year
Annual precip
43″ rain
62″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Low
Tornado
Very low
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Low

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Dover listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
72%
Humid climate
Median household income
$90,800
New Hampshire state median
Top industries (state-level)
ManufacturingHealthcareTourism

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

Cities similar to Dover

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