Compare towns
Derry vs Portsmouth vs Derry
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 homeowners (70.2%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Portsmouth | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
22,545 |
21,339Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41±3 5% below NH |
| 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% |
19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Derry 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±$7k 7% above NH |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,549±$137 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,278Lowest 9% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Derry 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
59.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5Lowest 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 | #60 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 |
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| 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.