Compare towns
Durham vs Dover vs Seabrook
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 20.8).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Seabrook has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
33,364Highest |
8,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
54±1.9Highest 25% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$443,500±$40k 10% above NH |
| Durham and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,542±$174 3% above NH |
| Dover and Seabrook 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 |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Seabrook 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest 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 | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | Seabrook 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.