Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Dover vs Hampton Falls
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Dover has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Hampton Falls has the most homeowners (86.3%).
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 | Portsmouth | Dover | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545 |
33,364Highest |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above 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 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest 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+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest 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 | $106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% 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 | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% 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 | $8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest 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 | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 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 | Portsmouth School District | Dover School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school 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 |
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.