Compare towns
Dover vs Portsmouth vs Windham vs Concord
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 the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k 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 | Windham | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
22,545 |
16,038Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Concord 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% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Concord 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 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
| Windham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | Windham School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School | Windham High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
11.4Lowest |
12.8 |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.