Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Concord vs Milford
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Dover | Durham | Concord | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
10,681Lowest |
44,375Highest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
40.7±1.3Highest 6% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Concord and Dover 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Durham and Milford 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Milford 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Milford 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Concord High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 13.0Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.