Compare towns

Deerfield vs White River Junction vs Portsmouth

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the most homeowners (91.3%).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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.

MeasureDeerfieldWhite River JunctionPortsmouth
People
Population
4,932
3,364Lowest
22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±4.2
10% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
42.9±2Highest
10% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5
U.S.: 22%
14%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Deerfield and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.5%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
64%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Portsmouth and Deerfield 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
63% above U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$106,219±$7k
32% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$421,000±$33k
27% above U.S.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
$688,500±$39kHighest
107% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,593±$318
13% above U.S.
$1,222±$216Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,869±$111Highest
32% above U.S.
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
136% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
$8,018Highest
157% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.4%±17.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
50.4%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Portsmouth and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
Work from home
22.4%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
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
School district Deerfield School District — Portsmouth School District
High school in town None in town — Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.