Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Wells vs Concord
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k 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 | Wells | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
15,080 |
11,713Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
40.7±1.3 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Concord 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest 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% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Durham and Wells 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 |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$7,227 132% 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% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Oyster River High School | Wells High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.