Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Madbury vs Norwich
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).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
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 | Madbury | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,681 |
2,203Lowest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest 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% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| 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 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Dover 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich 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.