Compare towns

Dover vs Campton vs Henniker 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

Campton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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.

MeasureDoverCamptonHennikerPortsmouth
People
Population
33,364Highest
3,407Lowest
6,197
22,545
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
NH: +4.6%
+0.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
36.9±1.9
15% below NH
49.2±3.7Highest
14% above NH
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% 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%
15.3%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
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%
16.5%±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%
NH: 40.6%
41.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
NH: 6%
7.2%±4.2
NH: 6%
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7kLowest
4% below NH
$118,870±$21kHighest
20% above NH
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$106,219±$7k
7% above NH
Campton and Portsmouth 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
$356,700±$49k
11% below NH
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
—
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,869±$111Highest
25% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249
24% above NH
$6,028Lowest
10% below NH
$8,877Highest
33% above NH
$8,018
20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
NH: 48.2%
72.6%±44.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.5%±22.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
Campton and Portsmouth 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%
11.6%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%
64.5%
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
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below NH
23 minHighest
13% below NH
20 minLowest
24% below NH
22 min
17% below NH
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
NH: 16.8%
28.3%±10.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.5%±5.6Lowest
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 #56 of 120 in NH #11 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District Campton School District Henniker School District Portsmouth School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School None in town None in town Portsmouth High School
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.