Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Lee vs Wilder
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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Lee | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
15,080 |
4,576 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Lee 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Dover 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% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Lee 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% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% 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% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Lee 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 31% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Dover and Durham 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. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% 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% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 10 photos → | 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.