Compare towns
Dover vs Plaistow vs New Ipswich 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%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | Plaistow | New Ipswich | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,861 |
5,310Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow 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% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Portsmouth 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 |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older 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 |
29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.7 |
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.