Compare towns
Sullivan vs Keene vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Sullivan | Keene | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
22,939Highest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Sullivan and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sullivan and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Sullivan and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.