Compare towns
Durham vs New Castle vs Hanover vs Dover
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).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | New Castle | Hanover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
827Lowest |
11,685 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Hanover 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% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
68.8% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| New Castle and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | New Castle School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Hanover High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
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.