Compare towns
Dover vs Weare vs Concord 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%).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
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 | Weare | Concord | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
9,170Lowest |
44,375Highest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Weare and Portsmouth 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% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Concord 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Concord 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% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Concord 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 4% below NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Weare 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 |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Weare 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | John Stark Regional High School | Concord High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
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.