Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Portsmouth vs Canterbury vs Newbury
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).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Newbury has the oldest population (median age 53.3).
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 | Canterbury | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
22,545Highest |
2,353 |
2,027Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
53.3±3.6Highest 23% above NH |
| Newbury and Hampton Falls 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%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Canterbury 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%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
23.6%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Newbury 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% |
49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$116,477±$18k 18% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Canterbury 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 |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH |
$463,400±$36k 15% 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 |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
— |
| Canterbury 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$5,695Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Hampton Falls 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Portsmouth School District | Shaker Regional 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 | 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.