Compare towns
Dover vs Ashland vs Newington vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Dover | Ashland | Newington | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,183 |
939Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Newington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Newington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,081 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Madbury 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Ashland School District | Newington School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.