Compare towns
Eliot vs Portsmouth vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Portsmouth | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
22,545Highest |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Weare and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Weare and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Weare and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$396,300±$26kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,541±$214Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$6,272 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #11 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Portsmouth School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.