Compare towns
Dover vs St. Albans vs White River Junction 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 most homeowners (52.7%).
St. Albans has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | St. Albans | White River Junction | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,954 |
3,364Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
38.7±2 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| St. Albans and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below 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±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$263,400±$18kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,150±$78Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 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 | #46 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | — | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.