Compare towns
Durham vs Dover vs South Eliot vs Plymouth
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 highest household income ($124k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | South Eliot | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
33,364Highest |
4,203Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4 37% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Durham and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Durham and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Dover Senior High School | — | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
12.7 |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.