Compare towns
Dover vs Ogunquit vs Portsmouth vs Lebanon
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 the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Portsmouth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Portsmouth | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,379Lowest |
22,545 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Lebanon 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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 17% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
— | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Portsmouth School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Portsmouth High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
11.7 |
| 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.