Compare towns
Rollinsford vs Durham vs Bennington 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
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Rollinsford | Durham | Bennington | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,626 |
15,080 |
1,588Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.1±7.8Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Bennington and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,100±$33k about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Rollinsford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,851 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest 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 | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rollinsford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | 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 | 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.