What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).

Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.

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

Measure	Portsmouth	Hanover
People
Population	22,545Highest	11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±2Highest about the NH average	28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	14.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Hanover and Portsmouth 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%	19.7%±2.8Lowest 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%	88.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH	$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$688,500±$39kLowest 71% above NH	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Lowest 25% above NH	$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Lowest 20% 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%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hanover 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%	5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	73.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH	1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 17% below NH	20 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.4%±5Highest 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	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Portsmouth School District	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.7Lowest
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.