Compare towns
Dover vs Rockport vs Portsmouth
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 youngest population (median age 36.9).
Rockport has the most homeowners (84.5%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Rockport | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,675Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.7±3.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rockport 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockport 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Rockport 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 17% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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. |
$469,000±$50k 41% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,764Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockport 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #8 of 133 in ME | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Camden Hills Regional H S | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.6 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.