Compare towns
Madbury vs Townsend vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Townsend has the oldest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
9,100 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Townsend 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 84% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| 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 11% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Dover 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | North Middlesex | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.