Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Portsmouth vs Concord
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 20.8).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k 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 | Durham | Portsmouth | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
15,080Lowest |
22,545 |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
40.7±1.3 6% 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Concord 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
23 minHighest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Durham 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 | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Oyster River High School | Portsmouth High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.