Compare towns
Enfield vs Portsmouth vs Keene vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Canaan has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
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 | Enfield | Portsmouth | Keene | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,475 |
22,545 |
22,939Highest |
3,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Highest 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+ | 30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 43% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below 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 | $390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203 7% below NH |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest 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 | 16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Portsmouth School District | Keene School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Keene High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
12.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.