Compare towns
Madbury vs Dover vs Stratham 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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Dover | Stratham | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
33,364Highest |
7,754 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Stratham 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% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Stratham 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
| Stratham and Madbury 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 |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
| Stratham and Holderness 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.