Compare towns
Durham vs Greenland vs Hampton Falls 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 the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Greenland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.6%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Greenland | Hampton Falls | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
4,106 |
2,328Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.4±7.7 12% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Greenland and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.9%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Greenland and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$162,837±$11k 64% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$662,800±$42k 65% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,331±$363Highest 56% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Greenland and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,420Lowest 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
77.3%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Greenland and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 23% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.2%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Greenland and Portsmouth 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 | #10 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Greenland School District | Hampton Falls School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | — | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.