Compare towns
Dover vs Portsmouth vs Weare
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).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,545 |
9,170Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
| Weare 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 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Weare 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 |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
| Weare 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 |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%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 |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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.