Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Hanover vs Holderness
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Hanover | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
15,080 |
11,685 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
| Holderness and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
| Hanover and Holderness 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.3 |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.