Compare towns
Dover vs Portsmouth vs Durham vs Milford
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Portsmouth | Durham | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,545 |
15,080Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School | Oyster River High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4 |
12.3 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.