Compare towns
Dover vs Portsmouth vs Sullivan
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).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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 | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,545 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan 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%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Sullivan 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% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Sullivan 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 |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan 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 |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.