Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Wilder vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).
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 | Wilder | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
3,087Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Canaan 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Canaan 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 32% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,985 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Canaan 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 | — | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | — | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | — | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.