Compare towns
Nottingham vs Durham vs Dover vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Dover has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Sanbornton has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Nottingham | Durham | Dover | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,357 |
10,681 |
33,364Highest |
3,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
41.9±5.4Highest 3% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sanbornton and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Nottingham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| Durham and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
| Nottingham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | — | Dover School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
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| 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.