Compare towns
Portsmouth vs South Hampton vs Franconia vs Exeter
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 most renters (48.1% rent).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | South Hampton | Franconia | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
984Lowest |
1,060 |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| South Hampton and Exeter 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 |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Portsmouth and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Exeter 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Exeter 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 | — | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | South Hampton School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.