Compare towns
Wilmot vs Portsmouth 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
Wilmot has the most homeowners (83.4%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Wilmot | Portsmouth | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,487Lowest |
22,545 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Wilmot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilmot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $117,759±$15kHighest 19% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Wilmot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,651Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest 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 | 2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Wilmot 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 |
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.