Compare towns
Franconia vs Durham 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
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Franconia | Durham | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
15,080 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Franconia and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 minHighest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Durham 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 | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.