Compare towns
Deerfield vs Portsmouth vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Deerfield | Portsmouth | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932Lowest |
22,545Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Somersworth and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 11% above NH |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth 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 NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Portsmouth School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
11.4 |
| 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.