Compare towns
Durham vs Newmarket vs Plymouth 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 highest household income ($124k).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Newmarket | Plymouth | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
9,463 |
6,601Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Newmarket and Dover 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 |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.