Compare towns

Newington vs Durham vs Henniker 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

Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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.

MeasureNewingtonDurhamHennikerDover
People
Population
939Lowest
15,080
6,197
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
48.7±10.1Highest
12% above NH
20.8±0.3Lowest
52% below NH
31.1±6.1
28% below NH
36.9±1.9
15% below NH
Newington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.9
NH: 18.2%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
15.3%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
Dover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±11Highest
NH: 20.1%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±6
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Newington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.4%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
52%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
55.1%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
27%±6.5
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$145,833±$46kHighest
47% above NH
$124,056±$21k
25% above NH
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$94,829±$7kLowest
4% below NH
Newington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$861,600±$46kHighest
114% above NH
$504,300±$41k
25% above NH
$356,700±$49kLowest
11% below NH
$436,700±$20k
8% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,292±$795Highest
54% above NH
$1,429±$143
4% below NH
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
Newington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,081Lowest
9% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,877
33% above NH
$8,249
24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.9%±44
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.5%±22.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3
NH: 48.2%
Durham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
15.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
11.6%
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.4%
NH: 72.8%
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
13% below NH
19 minLowest
27% below NH
20 min
24% below NH
23 min
15% below NH
Work from home
8%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.4%±3.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5
NH: 16.8%
Durham 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 — #9 of 120 in NH #56 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH
School district Newington School District Oyster River Coop School District Henniker School District Dover School District
High school in town None in town Oyster River High School None in town Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Lowest
—
12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 51 photos → 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.