Compare towns
Dover vs Ogunquit vs Townsend 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 the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 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 | Townsend | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,379Lowest |
9,100 |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Townsend 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±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ogunquit 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. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% 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% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Portsmouth 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | North Middlesex | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | North Middlesex Regional | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 13.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.