Compare towns
Dover vs Madbury vs Eliot vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Madbury | Eliot | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,203Lowest |
7,146 |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Somersworth 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 17% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,477±$134Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.