Compare towns
Hampton vs Durham 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
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Hampton | Durham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426 |
10,681Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Durham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Hampton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | — | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.