Compare towns
Dover vs Rye 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%).
Rye has the most homeowners (85.5%).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Rye | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
5,611Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye 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 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Portsmouth 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Rye 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±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Rye 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 |
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.