Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Hanover 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
Hampton Falls has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hampton Falls | Hanover | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
11,685 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$688,500±$39kLowest 71% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Lowest 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.