Compare towns
Henniker vs Lyme 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
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Lyme | Portsmouth | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
1,710Lowest |
22,545Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 33% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Lyme School District | Portsmouth School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
11.4 |
| 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.