Compare towns
Dover vs Stoddard 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 the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Stoddard has the most homeowners (93.3%).
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 | Stoddard | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,072Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stoddard 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% |
24.4%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Stoddard 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Stoddard 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 |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | Stoddard 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.