Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Greenland vs Exeter 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).
Greenland has the highest household income ($163k).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
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 | Exeter | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
4,106Lowest |
16,151 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
48.4±7.7Highest 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Greenland and Exeter 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% |
19.8%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Greenland and Exeter 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% |
28.9%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Greenland and Exeter 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Exeter 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 |
$162,837±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$662,800±$42k 65% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above 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±$111 25% above NH |
$2,331±$363Highest 56% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% 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 | $8,018 20% above NH |
$7,420Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
77.3%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Greenland and Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
32.2%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Greenland School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.