Compare towns
Dover vs Newfields vs Rye vs Stratham
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Newfields | Rye | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,023Lowest |
5,611 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Dover 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Dover 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Newfields 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Newfields School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.