Compare towns
Dover vs New Ipswich 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%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | New Ipswich | Durham | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
5,310 |
15,080 |
2,626Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.8±5.5Highest 10% below NH |
| Rollinsford and Dover 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% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford 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% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Durham and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
| Rollinsford 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 |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,851 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and New Ipswich 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% |
1.4%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% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 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 |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.7Lowest |
12.3 |
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| 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.