What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

Canterbury has the most homeowners (93.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Portsmouth	Canterbury
People
Population	22,545Highest	2,353Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±2Lowest about the NH average	48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH
	Canterbury and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Canterbury and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Canterbury and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64%Highest NH: 40.6%	49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	6.8%±3Highest NH: 6%
	Canterbury and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH	$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH
	Canterbury and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH	$443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Lowest 25% above NH	$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH
	Canterbury and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Highest 20% above NH	$7,421Lowest 11% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Canterbury and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	33 minHighest 22% above NH
Work from home	21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	21.6%±7.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Portsmouth and Canterbury 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	#11 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Portsmouth School District	Shaker Regional School District
High school 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

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.