Compare towns
Madbury vs Sanbornton vs Holderness 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).
Sanbornton has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Sanbornton | Holderness | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
3,053 |
1,917Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.9±5.4Highest 3% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Sanbornton 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% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Sanbornton 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% |
21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Madbury and Sanbornton 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 |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Madbury and Sanbornton 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 |
$1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Holderness 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 |
$5,731 14% below NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Sanbornton 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Sanbornton 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 | — | #42 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Holderness School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| 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.