Compare towns

Plymouth vs Dover vs Newmarket vs Holderness

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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.

MeasurePlymouthDoverNewmarketHolderness
People
Population
6,601
33,364Highest
9,463
1,917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.4%
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
-4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
24.6±3.4Lowest
43% below NH
36.9±1.9
15% below NH
41.2±1.9Highest
5% below NH
39.4±7.4
9% below NH
Newmarket and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.6%±3.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
15.6%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
14.7%±9.3
NH: 18.2%
Dover and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12%±2.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
16.1%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
31.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54%
NH: 40.6%
52%
NH: 40.6%
49.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
55.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
33.7%±3.5Highest
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,027±$26kLowest
22% below NH
$94,829±$7k
4% below NH
$100,845±$13k
about the NH average
$107,863±$45kHighest
9% above NH
Holderness and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$292,400±$22kLowest
27% below NH
$436,700±$20k
8% above NH
$455,000±$22kHighest
13% above NH
$363,100±$60k
10% below NH
Newmarket and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,108±$255Lowest
26% below NH
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
$1,671±$69
12% above NH
$2,068±$385Highest
39% above NH
Holderness and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,288
6% below NH
$8,249
24% above NH
$8,734Highest
31% above NH
$3,923Lowest
41% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.8%±11.6
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
46.3%±8.3
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Dover and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
4.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
12.1%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.3%
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
52.9%
NH: 72.8%
83.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
31% below NH
23 min
15% below NH
28 minHighest
6% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
11.7%±3.6
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
17.3%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Dover and Newmarket 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 #47 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH #39 of 120 in NH —
School district Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District Dover School District Newmarket School District Holderness School District
High school in town Plymouth Regional High School Dover Senior High School Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.7
9.9Lowest
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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.