Compare towns

Dover vs Hampton vs Madbury

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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).

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.

MeasureDoverHamptonMadbury
People
Population
33,364Highest
16,426
2,203Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.3%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
15% below NH
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above NH
37.7±2.1
13% below NH
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8
NH: 18.2%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
29%±5.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
30.9%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
14.3%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%
NH: 40.6%
42.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
52.6%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
3.4%±1.8
NH: 6%
Dover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7kLowest
4% below NH
$95,233±$9k
4% below NH
$148,365±$30kHighest
50% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20kLowest
8% above NH
$550,200±$39kHighest
37% above NH
$476,900±$31k
18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
$1,628±$94Highest
9% above NH
$1,574±$759Lowest
6% above NH
Hampton and Dover 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
$6,813Lowest
about the NH average
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
NH: 48.2%
56.8%±10.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
4.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
73.8%
NH: 72.8%
82.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below NH
26 minHighest
3% below NH
25 min
5% below NH
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
NH: 16.8%
21.7%±3.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
14%±3.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hampton 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 #31 of 120 in NH —
School district Dover School District Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School Winnacunnet High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
10.1Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 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.