Compare towns
Dover vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Strafford | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,306 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Strafford 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 |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Strafford 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 |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Madbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Strafford 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.