Compare towns
Henniker vs Portsmouth vs Norwich vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
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 | Norwich | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
22,545Highest |
3,640Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49k 7% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 185% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,805Lowest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Portsmouth School District | Norwich 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 |
U.S. 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.