Compare towns
Henniker vs Portsmouth vs Hampton Falls 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%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Portsmouth | Hampton Falls | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
22,545Highest |
2,328Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Hampton Falls 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%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Hampton Falls 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Hampton Falls 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | — | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Portsmouth School District | Hampton Falls School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | 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.