Compare towns
Hampton vs Portsmouth vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Portsmouth | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426 |
22,545Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Springfield and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Portsmouth School District | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Portsmouth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
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.