Compare towns
Dover vs Henniker vs Hillsborough 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
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Hillsborough | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,197 |
5,980Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Hillsborough 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% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hillsborough 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% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Henniker 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 |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough 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% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Henniker School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.