Compare towns
Plymouth 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
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 36.9).
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.
| Measure | Plymouth | Durham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601Lowest |
10,681 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
36.9±1.9Highest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Durham and Dover 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover 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% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | — | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.