Compare towns
Dover vs Plaistow vs Rollinsford 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%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Rollinsford | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,861 |
2,626Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%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 |
38.8±5.5 10% 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%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Rollinsford 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% 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% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest 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±$7k 4% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Plaistow 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 8% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford 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 |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Rollinsford School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— | 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.