Compare towns
Durham vs Campton vs Hanover 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
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Campton has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Campton | Hanover | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
3,407Lowest |
11,685 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
49.2±3.7Highest 14% above NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±6.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Campton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±10.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Campton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$118,870±$21k 20% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| Hanover and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$356,300±$38kLowest 11% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
— | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,028Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
72.6%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Campton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
28.3%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Campton and Hanover 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #68 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Campton School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Hanover High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.