Compare towns
Wilder vs Portsmouth vs Dover vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Wilder | Portsmouth | Dover | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
22,545 |
33,364Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below 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 | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 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 | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 37% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 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 | #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 | ||||
| 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.