Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Cornish 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Dover | Durham | Cornish | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,681 |
1,816Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Cornish 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Cornish School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | 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.