Compare towns

Portsmouth vs Windsor vs Dover

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).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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.

MeasurePortsmouthWindsorDover
People
Population
22,545
3,554Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±2
10% above U.S.
44.8±6.5Highest
15% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
Windsor 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%
19.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
Windsor 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%
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor 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%
39.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Portsmouth 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.
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
Portsmouth and Dover 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.
$207,500±$31kLowest
38% below U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,869±$111Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,026±$89Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,018
157% above U.S.
$5,209Lowest
67% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.4%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.5%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
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 #61 of 70 in VT #64 of 120 in NH
School district Portsmouth School District — Dover School District
High school in town Portsmouth High School — Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
—
12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.