Compare towns
Hanover vs Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Somersworth
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 highest household income ($170k).
Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Newmarket | Portsmouth | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
9,463Lowest |
22,545Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest 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+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Somersworth 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% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.