Compare towns
Eliot vs Hampton Falls vs Portsmouth vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Eliot | Hampton Falls | Portsmouth | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,328Lowest |
22,545Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Hampton Falls 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton Falls School District | Portsmouth School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.