Compare towns
Dover vs Hillsborough 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).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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.
| Measure | Dover | Hillsborough | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
5,980 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest 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±$7k 4% below NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Madbury and Dover 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 |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Dover and Madbury 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 |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Hillsborough 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.