Compare towns
Dover vs Thornton vs Rollinsford vs Newington
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).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Rollinsford has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | Thornton | Rollinsford | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,799 |
2,626 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
| Thornton and Newington 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Rollinsford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Rollinsford 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% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
| Newington and Dover 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 |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,851 about the NH average |
$6,081 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Rollinsford 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Thornton School District | Rollinsford School District | Newington 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.