Compare towns
Dover vs Keene vs Madbury vs Newmarket
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Keene | Madbury | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,939 |
2,203Lowest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
| Newmarket and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Madbury and Newmarket 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 |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
| Newmarket 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.3 |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.