Compare towns
Eliot vs Henniker vs Portsmouth vs South Eliot
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 most kids (16.3% under 18).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Eliot | Henniker | Portsmouth | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
6,197 |
22,545Highest |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Eliot 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. |
$8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Eliot 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Henniker School District | Portsmouth School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.