Compare towns
Henniker vs Keene vs Portsmouth vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Keene | Portsmouth | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
22,939Highest |
22,545 |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
| Weare and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
| Weare and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Keene School District | Portsmouth School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Portsmouth High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.