Compare towns
Durham vs Dover vs Sanbornton vs Durham
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 highest household income ($124k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Sanbornton has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Durham has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Sanbornton | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
33,364Highest |
3,053Lowest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
41.9±5.4Highest 3% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sanbornton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sanbornton 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 NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
| Durham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
| Dover and Durham 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 |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.