Compare towns
Madbury vs Newmarket vs Keene 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).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Newmarket | Keene | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
9,463 |
22,939 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Newmarket 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% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Madbury and Newmarket 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 |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Newmarket and Dover 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 |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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 | — | #39 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Keene School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Keene High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.3 |
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.