Compare towns

Henniker vs Portsmouth vs New Ipswich

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).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% 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.

MeasureHennikerPortsmouthNew Ipswich
People
Population
6,197
22,545Highest
5,310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+2.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
42.9±2Highest
about the NH average
36.9±2.4
15% below NH
Kids under 18
15.3%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
29.9%±5.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
16.5%±6
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
12.3%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Portsmouth and Henniker 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%
32.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21kLowest
4% below NH
$106,219±$7k
7% above NH
$110,507±$9kHighest
12% above NH
New Ipswich 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±$49kLowest
11% below NH
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
$392,400±$31k
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164
27% below NH
$1,869±$111Highest
25% above NH
$882±$469Lowest
41% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877Highest
33% above NH
$8,018
20% above NH
$5,647Lowest
15% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±41.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
New Ipswich 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%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below NH
22 min
17% below NH
33 minHighest
22% above NH
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4Highest
NH: 16.8%
12%±4.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Portsmouth and Henniker 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 #82 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District Portsmouth School District Mascenic Regional School District
High school in town None in town Portsmouth High School Mascenic Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.