Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Thetford
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).
Thetford has the most homeowners (84.1%).
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 | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
15,080 |
2,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.6±6.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Thetford 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 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Thetford 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% |
20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thetford and Dover 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 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. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Thetford 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% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest 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 | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Thetford 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 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.