Is Dover or Nashua Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Dover is safer than Nashua (Safety Score 80/100 vs 59/100), with a total crime rate of 834 per 100,000 versus 1,424 for Nashua — 41% lower. Dover has lower rates in 5 of 6 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Dover has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Nashua is 2.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Dover — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Nashua — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Dover, NH
Nashua, NH
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Dover | Nashua | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 833.9 | 1,424.1 | -590.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 47.5 | 162.8 | -115.3 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | +0.0 |
| Rape Rate | 29.7 | 53.9 | -24.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 0.0 | 14.3 | -14.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 17.8 | 92.4 | -74.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 786.4 | 1,261.3 | -474.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 59.4 | 33.0 | +26.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 706.3 | 1,141.4 | -435.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 20.8 | 86.9 | -66.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dover or Nashua safer?
Dover is safer with a total crime rate of 834 per 100K vs 1,424 for Nashua — a 41% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Dover has a violent crime rate of 47.5 per 100K while Nashua has 162.8. Dover has lower violent crime.
About Dover, NH
Dover, New Hampshire, the oldest continuous settlement in the state, sits on the Cocheco River. This city of over 30,000 residents is part of Strafford County. With a safety score of 80/100 and a population coverage of 33,696, Dover has a total crime rate of 833.9 per 100,000 residents.
About Nashua, NH
Nashua, once the "Spindletree City" for its textile mills, sits on the Merrimack River near the Massachusetts border. This southern New Hampshire city is the second most populous in the state. With a safety score of 59/100 and a population coverage of 90,938, Nashua has a total crime rate of 1,424.1 per 100,000 residents.