Compare towns
Dover vs South Eliot 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
South Eliot has the most homeowners (79.9%).
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 | South Eliot | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,203Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and South Eliot 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% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and South Eliot 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. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot 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% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | 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 |
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.