Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Portsmouth vs Brentwood
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Brentwood has the most affordable homes ($528k 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 | Hampton Falls | Portsmouth | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
22,545Highest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Hampton Falls 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$528,100±$75kLowest 31% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Lowest 24% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Portsmouth School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.