Compare towns
Holderness vs Dover vs Center Harbor vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holderness has the highest household income ($108k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Holderness | Dover | Center Harbor | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917 |
33,364Highest |
955Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Holderness and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
— | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Holderness and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$4,667 30% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Dover School District | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.