Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Greenland vs Dorchester
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 renters (48.1% rent).
Greenland has the most people working from home (32.2%).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Portsmouth | Greenland | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
4,106 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
48.4±7.7 12% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and Greenland 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% |
19.8%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Greenland and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.9%±5 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Greenland 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% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$162,837±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$662,800±$42k 65% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Lowest 25% above NH |
$2,331±$363Highest 56% above NH |
— |
| Greenland and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$7,420 11% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
77.3%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Greenland and Portsmouth 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% |
0.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
32.2%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Greenland 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 | #10 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Greenland School District | — |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.