Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Portsmouth vs Milford
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%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Portsmouth | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
11,685Lowest |
22,545 |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Portsmouth School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | Portsmouth High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.