Compare towns

Dover vs Hartland 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%).
Hartland has the most homeowners (91.8%).
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.

MeasureDoverHartlandPortsmouth
People
Population
33,364Highest
3,460Lowest
22,545
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
55.8±5.1Highest
43% above U.S.
42.9±2
10% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
14%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dover and Hartland 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%
28.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartland 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%
36.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
64%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$7k
17% above U.S.
$86,136±$23kLowest
7% above 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.
$348,600±$39kLowest
5% above U.S.
$688,500±$39kHighest
107% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
—
$1,869±$111Highest
32% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$6,437Lowest
106% above U.S.
$8,018
157% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
31.1%±89.7Lowest
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%
8.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±6.4Lowest
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 #29 of 70 in VT #11 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District Hartland 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

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.