Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Keene vs Hillsborough
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
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 | Portsmouth | Keene | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545 |
22,939Highest |
5,980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Hillsborough 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% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hillsborough and Keene 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$272,300±$16k 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Keene School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Keene High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.