Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Durham vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Durham has the most affordable homes ($504k median).
Hanover has the highest household income ($153k).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Portsmouth | Durham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
15,080 |
8,479Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Portsmouth and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Durham and Hanover 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 |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 17% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.