Compare towns
Dover vs Campton vs Durham vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Campton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Dover | Campton | Durham | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,407Lowest |
15,080 |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
49.2±3.7Highest 14% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±6.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Campton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±10.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Campton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$118,870±$21k 20% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Durham and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$356,300±$38kLowest 11% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
— | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$6,028Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.6%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Campton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
28.3%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Campton and Portsmouth 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 | #68 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Campton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.