Compare towns

Holderness vs Mont Vernon vs Portsmouth

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).

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.

MeasureHoldernessMont VernonPortsmouth
People
Population
1,917Lowest
2,636
22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
39.4±7.4Lowest
9% below NH
42.9±2.8Highest
about the NH average
42.9±2Highest
about the NH average
Kids under 18
14.7%±9.3
NH: 18.2%
22.1%±3.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Mont Vernon and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.6%±3.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.7%
NH: 40.6%
50.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
6.1%±2.8Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2
NH: 6%
Mont Vernon and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,863±$45k
9% above NH
$158,036±$19kHighest
60% above NH
$106,219±$7kLowest
7% above NH
Mont Vernon and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,100±$60kLowest
10% below NH
$526,300±$39k
31% above NH
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$385Highest
39% above NH
$1,104±$185Lowest
26% below NH
$1,869±$111
25% above NH
Holderness and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,923Lowest
41% below NH
$9,432Highest
41% above NH
$8,018
20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
51.4%±80.8Highest
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
Mont Vernon and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
6.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
NH: 72.8%
95.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
30 minHighest
12% above NH
22 minLowest
17% below NH
Work from home
9.4%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
26.6%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4
NH: 16.8%
Mont Vernon 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 — #4 of 120 in NH #11 of 120 in NH
School district Holderness School District Mont Vernon School District Portsmouth School District
High school in town None in town None in town Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4
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.