Compare towns
Durham vs Dover vs Barrington 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Dover | Barrington | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
33,364Highest |
9,489 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
38.7±2.3Highest 11% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Barrington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Durham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Barrington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Barrington 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 | 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.