Compare towns
Andover vs Dover vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most homeowners (88.4%).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Andover | Dover | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135Lowest |
33,364Highest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±11.6Highest 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Andover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27kLowest 11% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44kLowest 9% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
| Dover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Andover School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.