Compare towns
Dover vs Keene vs Portsmouth vs Rye
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Rye has the most homeowners (85.5%).
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 | Keene | Portsmouth | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,939 |
22,545 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rye 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Keene School District | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
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| 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.