Compare towns
Dover vs Greenland vs Madbury 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 the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Greenland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.6%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Greenland | Madbury | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,106 |
2,203Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
48.4±7.7Highest 12% above NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Greenland and Portsmouth 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% |
19.8%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Greenland 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% |
28.9%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Greenland 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$162,837±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Greenland and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$662,800±$42k 65% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,331±$363Highest 56% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Greenland and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$7,420Lowest 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
77.3%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Greenland and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
32.2%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Greenland 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 | #10 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Greenland School District | Oyster River Coop 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.