Compare towns
Dover vs Portsmouth vs Stratham
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).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,545 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Stratham 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 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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 |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 |
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| 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.