Compare towns
Madbury vs Ashland vs Dover vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Madbury | Ashland | Dover | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
2,183Lowest |
33,364Highest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Ashland and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Dover and Madbury 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 |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest 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 | 4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest 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 |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Ashland School District | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.