Compare towns
Dover vs Newfields 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Newfields | Portsmouth | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,023Lowest |
22,545 |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer 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 |
26 min 4% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Newfields 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Newfields School District | Portsmouth School District | Rye 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 | 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.