What is the cost of living in Dover, NH?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dover has an overall cost of living index of 116, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Hampshire, Dover has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Hampshire's index of 111.
The standard of living in Dover ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 25 places we measured in New Hampshire. By definition, that implies Dover ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Granite State.
For more reading on life in Dover, check out:
Dover Cost Of Living Vs. New Hampshire
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dover. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Dover is 105.
The Groceries index in Dover is 105.
The Health index in Dover is 144.
The Housing index in Dover is 104.
The Transportation index in Dover is 106.
The Utilities index in Dover is 109.
| Living Expense | Dover | New Hampshire | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 116 | 111 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 144 | 126 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 102 | 100 |
Dover Cost Of Living Compared To New Hampshire Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Hampshire, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In New Hampshire
- Most Affordable Cities In New Hampshire
- Average Rent In New Hampshire
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Dover, NH Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Hampshire, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Dover is $537,812.
The Median Rent in Dover is $1,607.
The Median Income in Dover is $94,829.
The Home Value To Income in Dover is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dover is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Dover | New Hampshire | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $537,812 | $507,347 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,607 | $1,491 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $94,829 | $99,031 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 5.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Dover, NH Costs By Category
Detailed Dover Services costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Dover | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.25 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.44 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.58 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $67.97 | $45.56 |
Detailed Dover Groceries costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Dover | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Dover Health costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Dover | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $115.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $164.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Dover Transportation costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Dover | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.33 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $86.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Dover Utilities costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Dover | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.72 | $192.25 |
Dover SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Dover
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dover. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Rochester, NH has a cost of living index of 103, 0.9x Dover.
Portsmouth, NH has a cost of living index of 137, 1.2x Dover.
Somersworth, NH has a cost of living index of 110, 0.9x Dover.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NH | 33,144 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Portsmouth, NH | 22,545 | 137 | 1.2x |
| Somersworth, NH | 12,111 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Durham, NH | 10,681 | 127 | 1.1x |
| Hampton, NH | 10,101 | 130 | 1.1x |
| Exeter, NH | 9,964 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Newmarket, NH | 5,679 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Kittery, ME | 5,110 | 125 | 1.1x |
