Compare towns
Durham vs Norwich vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Norwich | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
3,640Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,018Lowest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.