Compare towns
Dover vs Rollinsford vs Durham vs Portsmouth
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%).
Rollinsford has the most homeowners (78.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Rollinsford | Durham | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,626Lowest |
10,681 |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford 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% |
17.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Rollinsford 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% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford 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% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Rollinsford School District | — | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — | 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 | 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.