Compare towns
Ashland vs Dover vs Portsmouth vs Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Marlborough has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Ashland | Dover | Portsmouth | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
33,364Highest |
22,545 |
2,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Marlborough and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$69,032±$9k 30% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,133±$323 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,362 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
68.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.