Compare towns
Dover vs Kennebunk vs Naples 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%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
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 | Kennebunk | Naples | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
11,820 |
3,985Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
49.8±6.8 28% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Naples 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% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%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%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk 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 31% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,941±$625Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
| Naples and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Naples and Portsmouth 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±11.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Naples 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #118 of 133 in ME | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 21 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Kennebunk High School | Lake Region High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.6 |
11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.