Compare towns
Dover vs Rye vs Madbury
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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Rye | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
5,611 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Madbury 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Rye 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Rye 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Rye School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | 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 |
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.