Compare towns
Dover vs Mont Vernon vs Durham
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%).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Mont Vernon | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,636Lowest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Mont Vernon 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% |
50.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Durham 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 |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
| Dover and Durham 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 |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Mont Vernon School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.