Compare towns
Madbury vs Plymouth vs Portsmouth vs Rollinsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Madbury | Plymouth | Portsmouth | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
6,601 |
22,545Highest |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford 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 |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,851 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Portsmouth School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.