Compare towns

Henniker vs Portsmouth vs Keene vs Hopkinton

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 expensive homes ($689k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hopkinton has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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.

MeasureHennikerPortsmouthKeeneHopkinton
People
Population
6,197
22,545
22,939Highest
6,037Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
42.9±2
about the NH average
37.6±2.3
13% below NH
45±2.8Highest
4% above NH
Hopkinton 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%
14.1%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
18.8%±4.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
Hopkinton and Henniker 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%
21.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
19.9%±4.2
NH: 20.1%
Portsmouth and Hopkinton 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%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
44.1%
NH: 40.6%
58.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4
NH: 6%
7.9%±4.4
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$106,219±$7k
7% above NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
$137,477±$21kHighest
39% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,700±$49k
11% below NH
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$506,900±$54k
26% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,869±$111Highest
25% above NH
$1,342±$68
10% below NH
$1,270±$129
15% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877
33% above NH
$8,018
20% above NH
$6,812Lowest
about the NH average
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
42.4%±6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Portsmouth and Keene 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%
10.1%
NH: 7.2%
6.5%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
55.1%
NH: 72.8%
87.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
5 yrs older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1961
18 yrs older than NH
1968
11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
24% below NH
22 minHighest
17% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
22 minHighest
17% below NH
Work from home
15.5%±5.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
23.8%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
Hopkinton 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 #81 of 120 in NH #28 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District Portsmouth School District Keene School District Hopkinton School District
High school in town None in town Portsmouth High School Keene High School Hopkinton High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
12.3Highest
12.0
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.