Compare towns
Enfield vs Plymouth vs Portsmouth vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the most homeowners (82.1%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Enfield | Plymouth | Portsmouth | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,475Lowest |
6,601 |
22,545Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| Enfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Portsmouth and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±7.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203 7% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Portsmouth School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Portsmouth High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.4 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.