Compare towns
South Hampton vs Portsmouth vs East Kingston
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%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
East Kingston has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
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 | Portsmouth | East Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
22,545Highest |
2,311 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
| East Kingston 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and East Kingston 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| East Kingston 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±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
| South Hampton and East Kingston 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$575,500±$56kLowest 43% 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 |
$1,869±$111Lowest 25% 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$9,604Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| East Kingston and Portsmouth 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 | Portsmouth School District | East Kingston School District |
| High school 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 | 9 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.