Compare towns
Henniker vs Stratham vs Portsmouth vs Hillsborough
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%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Stratham | Portsmouth | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
7,754 |
22,545Highest |
5,980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hillsborough 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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 |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 33% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hillsborough 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Portsmouth School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.