Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Dover vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sanbornton has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
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 | Sanbornton | Dover | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,053Lowest |
33,364Highest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4Highest 3% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sanbornton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sanbornton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$41kHighest 15% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
| Sanbornton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
| Durham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
| Dover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.