Compare towns
Durham vs Portsmouth vs North Hampton
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 20.8).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Portsmouth | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
22,545Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton 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% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 25% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
| Portsmouth and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Portsmouth and North Hampton 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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 | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Portsmouth 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 | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.