Compare towns
Newington vs Hanover vs Dover 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
Newington has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Dover has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Newington | Hanover | Dover | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
11,685 |
33,364Highest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Hanover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.