Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Henniker 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Henniker | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,681 |
6,197 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
37.7±2.1Highest 13% below NH |
| Madbury and Dover 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Henniker 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% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Durham 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 |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Durham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Dover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest 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 | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Henniker School District | Oyster River Coop 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 |
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.