Compare towns
Hartford vs Portsmouth vs Dover vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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 | Hartford | Portsmouth | Dover | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
22,545 |
33,364Highest |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
53.4±12.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
58% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$84,229±$8k 4% 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 | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$399,200±$144k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,170±$98Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,722 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
24%±22.4Lowest 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 | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.3%±10.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Portsmouth School District | Dover School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Portsmouth High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.4 |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.