Compare towns
Dover vs South Eliot vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | South Eliot | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,203 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Madbury and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and South Eliot 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Oyster River Coop 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 |
U.S. 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.

