Compare towns

Newington vs Henniker vs Portsmouth vs Hampton Falls

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Hampton Falls has the most kids (19.1% 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.

MeasureNewingtonHennikerPortsmouthHampton Falls
People
Population
939Lowest
6,197
22,545Highest
2,328
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%
NH: +4.6%
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.5%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
48.7±10.1
12% above NH
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
42.9±2
about the NH average
49.5±7.3Highest
14% above NH
Hampton Falls and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.9
NH: 18.2%
15.3%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.1%±5.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
Hampton Falls and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±11Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
25%±3.6
NH: 20.1%
Newington and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.4%
NH: 40.6%
41.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
54.5%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8
NH: 6%
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$145,833±$46k
47% above NH
$95,206±$21kLowest
4% below NH
$106,219±$7k
7% above NH
$166,157±$14kHighest
68% above NH
Hampton Falls and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$861,600±$46kHighest
114% above NH
$356,700±$49kLowest
11% below NH
$688,500±$39k
71% above NH
$772,600±$76k
92% above NH
Newington and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,292±$795Highest
54% above NH
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,869±$111
25% above NH
$1,852±$475
24% above NH
Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,081Lowest
9% below NH
$8,877
33% above NH
$8,018
20% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.9%±44Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.5%±22.6
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
11.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
6.8%
NH: 7.2%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
86.3%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below NH
20 minLowest
24% below NH
22 min
17% below NH
32 minHighest
21% above NH
Work from home
8%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.8%±4.8
NH: 16.8%
Portsmouth and Hampton Falls 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 —
School district Newington School District Henniker School District Portsmouth School District Hampton Falls School District
High school in town None in town None in town Portsmouth High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4
—
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.