Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Springfield vs Hampton
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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Springfield | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
1,122Lowest |
16,426 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Hampton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Springfield and Portsmouth 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Springfield 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 |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | — | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.