Compare towns

Newington vs Portsmouth vs Dover vs Eliot

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newington has the highest household income ($146k).
Portsmouth has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).

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.

MeasureNewingtonPortsmouthDoverEliot
People
Population
939Lowest
22,545
33,364Highest
7,146
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.7±10.1
25% above U.S.
42.9±2
10% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
Eliot and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
14%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Dover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±11Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
64%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$145,833±$46kHighest
81% above U.S.
$106,219±$7k
32% above U.S.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$861,600±$46kHighest
159% above U.S.
$688,500±$39k
107% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,292±$795Highest
62% above U.S.
$1,869±$111
32% above U.S.
$1,607±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,081
95% above U.S.
$8,018
157% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.9%±44Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.4%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
12% below U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
Work from home
8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
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 — #11 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH #19 of 133 in ME
School district Newington School District Portsmouth School District Dover School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town None in town Portsmouth High School Dover Senior High School None in town
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

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.