Compare towns
Dover vs Portsmouth vs Hartford vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Hartford | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,545 |
10,736Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milford and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hartford 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 17% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$97,768±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$398,800±$20k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$7,522 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | Hartford School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School | Hartford High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4 |
9.6Lowest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.