Compare towns
Dover vs Hooksett vs Portsmouth vs Concord
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 youngest population (median age 36.9).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k 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 | Hooksett | Portsmouth | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
15,057Lowest |
22,545 |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Hooksett 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% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Concord 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Dover 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 4% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
| Hooksett and Portsmouth 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hooksett School District | Portsmouth School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.