Compare towns
Hartford vs Portsmouth vs Dover vs Wilder
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 homeowners (67.8%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
22,545 |
33,364Highest |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest 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. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder 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%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below 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±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below 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. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% 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% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #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 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Portsmouth High School | Dover Senior High School | — |
| 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.