7 Best Places to Live in New Hampshire
Open to exploring your options? Discover other great cities in New Hampshire with our detailed guide.
Dover, New Hampshire's oldest permanent settlement, sits along the Cochecho River, where historic brick mills have been transformed into modern apartments and businesses. Downtown Dover features local restaurants and breweries, while landmarks like Henry Law Park's waterfront playground and Garrison Hill Park's observation tower offer outdoor recreation with sweeping views of the area. Current rental data shows one-bedroom apartments averaging $1,698, while two-bedroom units typically rent for $1,946.
The Children's Museum of New Hampshire and Woodman Institute Museum anchor Dover's cultural district, housed in preserved mill buildings that celebrate the city's heritage. Housing options include apartments in restored mills and traditional New England-style homes throughout established neighborhoods near the Cochecho and Bellamy Rivers. The downtown area offers easy access to shops and restaurants, while waterfront improvements continue to enhance the riverside experience. Dover's location provides convenient access to Boston via the Amtrak Downeaster and sits just minutes from the University of New Hampshire in Durham.
The public library in Downtown Dover is a great amenity.
Hikers enjoy the Dover Community Trail in Downtown Dover.
This sculpture sits at a trailhead in Downtown Dover.
This tree-story home with a porch is located in Downtown Dover.
Downtown Dover is located in the southeastern part of New Hampshire.
Downtown Dover is a thriving community.
As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Dover, NH is $1,322 for a studio, $1,821 for one bedroom, $2,098 for two bedrooms, and $3,190 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Dover has increased by 0.3% in the past year.
Open to exploring your options? Discover other great cities in New Hampshire with our detailed guide.
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Dover, NH is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.
Somewhat Bikeable
You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.
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Frances G. Hopkins Elementary School at Horne Street
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Cocheco Arts And Technology Charter Academy
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The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.