Compare towns
Dover vs Hartford vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
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 | Hartford | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,736Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Hartford 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 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hartford 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 17% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hartford School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hartford High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.6Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.