Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Somersworth vs Newmarket 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).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Somersworth | Newmarket | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
12,111 |
9,463Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket 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% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 7% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| 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 71% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Somersworth School District | Newmarket School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Somersworth High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.4 |
9.9Lowest |
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.