Compare towns
Durham vs South Hampton 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | South Hampton | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
984Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| South Hampton 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±$45kLowest 24% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and South Hampton 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 | — | South Hampton School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.