Compare towns
Madbury vs Stratham 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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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 | Stratham | Keene | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
7,754 |
22,939 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Keene 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Stratham and Madbury 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% 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% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Dover 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% 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 |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Keene School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Lowest |
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.