Compare towns
Nottingham vs Durham 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
Nottingham has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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.
| Measure | Nottingham | Durham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,357Lowest |
15,080 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7Highest 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Nottingham and Dover 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Nottingham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Durham and Nottingham 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Nottingham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | 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 |
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.