Compare towns
Madbury vs Plymouth vs Dover vs Barrington
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 highest household income ($148k).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Barrington has the most homeowners (87%).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% 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 | Plymouth | Dover | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
4,969 |
33,364Highest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
38.7±2.3Highest 11% below NH |
| Barrington 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% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Barrington 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% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Barrington 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% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$89,500±$32kLowest 10% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
| Madbury and Barrington 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 |
$294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
| Madbury and Dover 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 |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington 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 |
$6,483Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Dover 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% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Dover School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dover Senior High School | 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.