Compare towns
Hartford vs Portsmouth vs Hampton Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Hartford | Portsmouth | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
22,545Highest |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Portsmouth School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.