Compare towns
Dover vs Pembroke vs Durham vs Concord
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%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
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 | Pembroke | Durham | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
7,438Lowest |
15,080 |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
| Pembroke and Concord 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Concord 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% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Pembroke School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Pembroke Academy | Oyster River High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
13.1Highest |
12.3Lowest |
13.0 |
| 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.