Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Eliot vs Enfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
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 | Eliot | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,681 |
7,146 |
4,475Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Enfield and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
7.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Enfield and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$95,474±$19k 18% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$390,800±$71kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,181±$563Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,203 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #5 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | 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 |
U.S. 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.