Compare towns
Madbury vs Portsmouth vs Hampton Falls vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Madbury | Portsmouth | Hampton Falls | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
22,545 |
2,328 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Hampton Falls School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.