Compare towns
Madbury vs Dorchester vs Holderness
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).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
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 | Dorchester | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Highest |
410Lowest |
1,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Dorchester and Holderness 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% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Madbury and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
— | $107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
| Madbury and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
— | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness 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 |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$3,923 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Holderness and Madbury 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Madbury and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.