Compare towns
Dover vs Plymouth vs Durham 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%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($294k median).
Durham has the most homeowners (64.4%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Durham | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,969Lowest |
15,080 |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
22.8±0.9 47% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$89,500±$32kLowest 10% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$6,483Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Durham 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Oyster River High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.