Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Newbury
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).
Newbury has the oldest population (median age 53.3).
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 | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
15,080 |
2,027Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
53.3±3.6Highest 23% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Newbury 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 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.6%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
53% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$116,477±$18k 18% above NH |
| Durham and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$463,400±$36k 15% above NH |
| Durham and Newbury 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
— |
| 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 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,695Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newbury 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newbury 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 | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.