Compare towns
Dover vs Windham vs Bedford 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 most affordable homes ($437k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Windham | Bedford | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
16,038Lowest |
23,746 |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Bedford 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bedford 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Bedford 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Windham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Windham School District | Bedford School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Windham High School | Bedford High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.8 |
13.5Highest |
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.