Compare towns
Mont Vernon vs Dover vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Mont Vernon | Dover | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,636Lowest |
33,364Highest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Dover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,432 41% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Durham 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mont Vernon School District | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.