Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Durham vs White River Junction vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | White River Junction | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
15,080 |
3,364Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Durham 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 | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Oyster River High School | — | 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 |
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.