What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

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	34,116Highest	22,545Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.3±1.6Lowest 7% 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%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	64%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Highest 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	$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH	$106,219±$7kLowest 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±$17kLowest 7% above NH	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH	$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 22% above NH	$8,018Lowest 20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Highest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2%	6.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above NH	22 minLowest 17% below NH
Work from home	16%±2.8Lowest 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	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Highest	11.4Lowest
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.