Compare towns
Durham vs Dover vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
33,364Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Dover 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Durham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Dorset 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 221% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.