Compare towns
Campton vs Plaistow vs Plymouth 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
Campton has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Campton | Plaistow | Plymouth | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,407Lowest |
7,861 |
6,601 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7Highest 14% above NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±6.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±10.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Campton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,870±$21kHighest 20% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Campton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,300±$38k 11% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,028Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.6%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Campton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 28.3%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Campton 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 | #68 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Campton School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.