Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Portsmouth vs Durham
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).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Hampton Falls | Portsmouth | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
22,545Highest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| 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%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% 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±$475 24% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Hampton Falls 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 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.