Compare towns
Exeter vs Portsmouth vs South Hampton
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 the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Portsmouth | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
22,545Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Exeter and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Exeter 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
| Portsmouth and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Portsmouth School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| 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.