Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Durham vs Lyme 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
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lyme has the most homeowners (80.5%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Portsmouth | Durham | Lyme | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
15,080 |
1,710Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Lyme and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Lyme and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lyme 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lyme 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3 |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.