Compare towns
Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Dover vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Newmarket | Portsmouth | Dover | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463Lowest |
22,545 |
33,364Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | Dover School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School | Dover Senior High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.4 |
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.