Spend a few minutes on social media or at a restaurant and you’ll hear plenty of bold claims about Dover. We’re told crime is out of control, that homeless encampments are spreading, that the City Council ignores its own spending limits, and that taxes are soaring because the city can’t control its budget or growth. These statements get repeated so often they start to sound true — but they’re not.
The truth is, Dover is one of the most responsibly managed and safest cities in New Hampshire. That’s not to say there aren’t issues and things we need to improve. But we shouldn’t deny the successes of our hard work. Let’s separate fact from fiction.
Myth #1: Dover has a crime problem. FALSE.
At a recent session of the Citizens Leadership Academy, Police Chief David Terlemezian shared fifteen years of crime data. We saw graphs covering burglary, robbery, theft, assault, rape, etc. Every single category is at a 15-year low. In 2024, Dover recorded significantly fewer offenses than in 2009 across the board. The Chief cautioned residents not to mistake social-media chatter for reality — and he’s right. When candidates or public figures talk about “law and order” as if Dover were a crime-ridden city, they’re not looking at the facts. Dover remains one of the safest small cities in the region, thanks to community policing, data-driven strategies, and residents who stay engaged. The goal of any responsible councilor is keep things trending for the better.
Myth #2: Dover has homelessness encampments. FALSE.
This is another phrase that gets thrown around loosely. During a discussion with our police chief on Dover crime statistics, I asked him specifically whether Dover’s homeless population is over-represented in crime statistics. His answer: no. The homeless community is no more prone to crime than anyone else, and homelessness itself is not a crime. Dover’s unhoused population is the smallest it’s been in years, and there are no encampments today. I believe our new police chief that has been with the Dover Police for nearly 30 years is more than qualified to give that assessment.
Dover does have residents who are unhoused — and the city, police, and social-service organizations work hard to support them — but we do not have the large, semi-permanent encampments that exist in some other cities. However, Dover’s approach has here should be better. A warming center is a start, but it’s not enough. Real progress means helping people stabilize, heal, and rebuild — through counseling, transitional housing, and pathways to employment. When we give people a safe place to sleep, to care for themselves, and an address to put on a job application, they have a real chance to get back on their feet. The challenge of homelessness is real, but exaggerating its scale in Dover doesn’t help solve it; it only stigmatizes vulnerable neighbors and distracts from solutions that work.
Myth #3: The City Council overrides the budget cap every year. FALSE.
Dover is one of the few cities in New Hampshire that operates under a formal tax-cap ordinance, limiting how much the city and school budgets can grow each year. The idea that the Council simply ignores that cap is flatly untrue.
The council has overridden 7 out of 18 budgets and three of those were directly attributable to the construction of the new high school. The most recent was for the athletic fields. Dover’s fiscal management has earned it a AA+ bond rating, the second highest possible. That doesn’t happen in cities that “override the cap every year” or “have a spending problem.”
Budget deliberations are complex and aim to balance the needs of multiple constituencies in Dover. This is evident in the fact that every sitting councilor has voted to override the tax cap at some point — even those who are its most vocal supporters.
Myth #4: Dover’s spending is out of control, causing property-tax increases. FALSE.
It’s true that property taxes have risen — but not because spending is reckless. In reality, most increases track with inflation, debt service on largely popular projects such as the new high school, and rising costs passed down from the county and state. Dover has maintained balanced budgets and fully funded its obligations without resorting to gimmicks or short-term fixes. City operations represent about one-third of the general fund; the remainder goes to schools, county taxes, and debt service — many of which are outside the Council’s direct control. When you compare Dover to other New Hampshire communities of similar size, our cost per resident is competitive and our services — from water quality to emergency response — are among the best. That’s not “out of control.” That’s disciplined stewardship.
Much of the unplanned spending in recent years stems from funding cuts and cost shifts originating in Concord, leaving cities and towns with difficult choices: deeply cut services or raise local taxes. Dover has worked to balance those pressures responsibly — maintaining services while moderating tax growth wherever possible.
Myth #5: Dover is growing uncontrollably. FALSE.
Yes, Dover is growing — and that’s a good thing. Growth sustains our tax base, supports local businesses, and helps keep housing attainable. But the idea that development is “out of control” couldn’t be further from the truth. Dover may be one of the fastest growing cities in New Hampshire, but the rate is very low and more than sustainable. The average population growth rate for the last decade and more has been around 1% a year.
As of this year, 1,441 housing units are in some stage of Planning Board approval. About 6.6 percent of those are designated as Attainable Units — homes affordable to middle-income families who earn too much for traditional subsidies but struggle with market-rate prices. The city’s long-range plan calls for roughly 1,700 new units by 2035 — a deliberate, moderate pace designed to meet demand without overwhelming infrastructure. Every major project goes through public hearings, environmental review, and staff analysis. That’s managed growth, not runaway development.
Why these myths matter
Misinformation spreads faster than data, especially in the social-media echo chamber. When false narratives take root, they erode trust, breed cynicism, and make it harder to focus on Dover’s real challenges — like affordability, infrastructure resilience, and sustainable planning. I believe local government works best when residents engage with facts, not fear.
Our police, public-works teams, educators, and city staff work every day to keep Dover strong and vibrant. They deserve a community conversation grounded in reality, not rhetoric.
So the next time someone claims Dover is unsafe, mismanaged, or spiraling out of control, ask them for evidence. Encourage them not just to point to a single incident from the news or social media, but to consider how Dover compares to other cities with nearly 34,000 residents. You’ll likely find that the reality is quite different—a city that plans ahead, cares for its people, and keeps its commitments.
