Compare towns
Dover vs Portsmouth vs Norwich vs Newington
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 the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Portsmouth has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Norwich | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,545 |
3,640 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| 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%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% 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% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,081Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Norwich 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 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | Norwich School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | 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 |
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.