Compare towns
Dover vs Newmarket vs Stratham 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%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Newmarket | Stratham | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
9,463 |
7,754Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Dover 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% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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 |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Newmarket School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.