Compare towns
South Hampton vs Franconia vs Portsmouth vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | South Hampton | Franconia | Portsmouth | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
1,060 |
22,545Highest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Franconia and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$530,300±$96kLowest 32% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% 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 | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% 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 | $9,109 37% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Kensington 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 | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Portsmouth School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.