Compare towns
Dover vs Portsmouth vs Hanover vs Newington
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 the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Newington has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,545 |
8,479 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Newington 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% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
| Hanover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$842,600±$97k 109% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Hanover 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 |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Newington 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | — | Newington 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 | 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.