Compare towns
Dover vs White River Junction vs Rollinsford 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
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Rollinsford has the most homeowners (78.2%).
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 | White River Junction | Rollinsford | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,364 |
2,626Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
38.8±5.5 about the U.S. average |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rollinsford 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% 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%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$89,500±$26k 11% above 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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$398,100±$33k 20% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,809±$394 28% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$6,851 120% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rollinsford 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 | — | #94 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Rollinsford 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 | 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.