Compare towns
Dover vs Kensington vs Durham vs Rollinsford
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%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Kensington | Durham | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,009Lowest |
15,080 |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Kensington and Rollinsford 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% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rollinsford and Kensington 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% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford and Kensington 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% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
| Kensington and Rollinsford 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rollinsford 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.