Compare towns
Canaan vs Enfield vs Keene vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Canaan | Enfield | Keene | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
4,475 |
22,939Highest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
43% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,203 7% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Keene School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Keene High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.