Compare towns
Madbury vs Newington vs Dorchester 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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
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 | Newington | Dorchester | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
939 |
410Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
— | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Dorchester and Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Newington 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% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
— | $124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
| Madbury and Newington 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 |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
— | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Newington 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 |
$6,081 9% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newington 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
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 min 5% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Madbury 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 |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.