Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Portsmouth vs Franconia vs Kensington
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).
Franconia has the most affordable homes ($530k median).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Franconia | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
22,545Highest |
1,060Lowest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Franconia 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% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Franconia 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±$7k 7% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington 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 |
$530,300±$96kLowest 32% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% 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 |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia 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% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 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 | Lafayette Regional School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | 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.