Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton Falls vs Durham vs Newington
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%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Hampton Falls | Durham | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,328 |
15,080 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Newington 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 |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Newington and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Hampton Falls 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 |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newington 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | Hampton Falls School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | 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 | 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.