What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has the most affordable homes ($391k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derry	Portsmouth
People
Population	21,339Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41±3Lowest 5% below NH	42.9±2Highest about the NH average
	Portsmouth and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2%	14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	64%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6%	3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Derry and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH	$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH
	Portsmouth and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,549±$137Lowest 4% above NH	$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,278Lowest 9% above NH	$8,018Highest 20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2%	50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Derry and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	6.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above NH	22 minLowest 17% below NH
Work from home	14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 120 in NH	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	—	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.