Compare towns
Henniker vs Newington vs Portsmouth vs South Hampton
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%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Portsmouth has the most people working from home (21.9%).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Newington | Portsmouth | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
939Lowest |
22,545Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Newington and South Hampton 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% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
| Newington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 33% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and South Hampton 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 | — |
| School district | Henniker School District | Newington School District | Portsmouth School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.