Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Rye vs Dover vs Exeter
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Rye | Dover | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
5,611Lowest |
33,364Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Rye and Exeter 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Exeter 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.