Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Hartford vs Dover vs Newmarket
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).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Hartford | Dover | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
10,736 |
33,364Highest |
9,463Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$100,845±$13k 25% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket 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. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 157% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$8,734Highest 180% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Hartford School District | Dover School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Hartford High School | Dover Senior High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.