Compare towns
Dover vs Concord vs Portsmouth vs Derry
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%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Derry has the most homeowners (70.2%).
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 | Concord | Portsmouth | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
44,375Highest |
22,545Lowest |
34,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Concord 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% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
| Derry 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 |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry 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% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Portsmouth School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Concord High School | Portsmouth High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
13.0 |
11.4Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| 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.