Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Campton 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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Campton has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Campton | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,407 |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
49.2±3.7Highest 14% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±6.8 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±10.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Campton and Portsmouth 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% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
51.2% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Campton 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$118,870±$21k 20% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Plainfield and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$356,300±$38kLowest 11% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
— | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,028Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.6%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Campton 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
28.3%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Campton 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #68 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Plainfield School District | Campton School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| 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.