Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Keene vs Newfields 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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Keene | Newfields | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
22,939 |
2,023Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Newfields 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 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Keene and Newfields 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 |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Newfields 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 |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Keene School District | Newfields School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Keene High School | None in town | 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 | 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.