Compare towns
Newmarket vs Dover vs Milford 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
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Newmarket | Dover | Milford | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463Lowest |
33,364Highest |
16,337 |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Newmarket and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Dover School District | Milford School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Dover Senior High School | Milford High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
10.7 |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.