Compare towns
Derry 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
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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.
| Measure | Derry | Keene | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
22,939 |
22,545Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Derry and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Keene School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Keene High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.3 |
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.