Compare towns
Durham vs Portsmouth vs Wilmot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Wilmot has the most homeowners (83.4%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Portsmouth | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
22,545Highest |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wilmot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilmot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
58.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$117,759±$15kHighest 19% above NH |
| Wilmot and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Wilmot 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 | #9 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 | 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.