Compare towns
Dover vs Norwich vs Plymouth 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%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Norwich | Plymouth | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,640Lowest |
6,601 |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,288Lowest 102% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #47 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Norwich School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 12.8Highest |
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.