Compare towns
Hanover vs Portsmouth vs Hampton Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Hampton Falls has the most homeowners (86.3%).
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.
| Measure | Hanover | Portsmouth | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479 |
22,545Highest |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above 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 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest 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+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest 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+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$688,500±$39kLowest 71% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,852±$475Lowest 24% above NH |
| 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 | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest 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 | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school 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 |
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.