Compare towns
Dover vs Portsmouth vs Ashland
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%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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 | Portsmouth | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,545 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Ashland 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland 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 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.