Compare towns
Madbury vs Durham vs Weare vs Dover
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Weare | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
10,681 |
9,170 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Weare 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Madbury 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Madbury and Weare 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% 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 |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | John Stark Regional High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.