What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).

Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).

Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanover	Portsmouth
People
Population	8,479Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH	42.9±2Highest about the NH average
Kids under 18	9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	14%±1.9Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Portsmouth and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	89.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	64%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH	$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH	$688,500±$39kLowest 71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH	$1,869±$111Lowest 25% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$8,018Lowest 20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2%	50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hanover and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest NH: 7.2%	6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 29% below NH	22 minHighest 17% below NH
Work from home	26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8%	21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hanover 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	#1 of 120 in NH	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	—	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.