Compare towns
Exeter vs Durham 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Exeter | Durham | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
10,681Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 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.