Compare towns
Holderness vs Dover vs Durham 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 most homeowners (83.7%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($294k 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 | Holderness | Dover | Durham | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
33,364Highest |
15,080 |
4,969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
22.8±0.9 47% below NH |
| Holderness and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1 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%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$89,500±$32kLowest 10% below NH |
| Durham and Holderness 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,483 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7 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 | 12.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.