Compare towns
Dover vs Hopkinton 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
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hopkinton has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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 | Hopkinton | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,037Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Hopkinton 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hopkinton 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton 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±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1968 11 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hopkinton School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hopkinton High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.0 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.