Compare towns
Dover vs Lee vs Portsmouth vs Newington
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%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Lee | Portsmouth | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,576 |
22,545 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| Newington and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Lee 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% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
| Newington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
— | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.