Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Eliot vs Newmarket
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 20.8).
Eliot has the most homeowners (79.8%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
15,080 |
7,146Lowest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$100,845±$13k 25% 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±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot 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. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Newmarket 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. |
$8,734 180% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer 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. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.3 |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.