Compare towns
Keene vs Portsmouth vs North Hampton vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Keene | Portsmouth | North Hampton | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
22,545 |
4,543Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
| Portsmouth and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
| Portsmouth and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 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 | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Portsmouth School District | North Hampton School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.