Compare towns
Dover vs Kensington 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%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k 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 | Kensington | Madbury | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Kensington and Newmarket 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington 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% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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 |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
| Kensington and Madbury 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 |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Kensington and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$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% |
24.4%±38.5 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington 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 | — | — | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 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.