Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Hanover vs Dover vs New Castle
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).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Dover | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
11,685 |
33,364Highest |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Hanover 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
| New Castle and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dover School District | New Castle School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Hanover High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.