What stands out worked out from the figures below

Naples has the most homeowners (87.5%).

Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Naples	Portsmouth
People
Population	3,985Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.8±6.8Highest 28% above U.S.	42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Naples and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Naples and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Naples and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	64%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Portsmouth and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S.	$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average	$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,941±$625Highest 37% above U.S.	$1,869±$111Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Naples and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S.	$8,018Highest 157% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Naples and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 45% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	26.7%±11.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Naples 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	#118 of 133 in ME	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 61/MSAD 61	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	Lake Region High School	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.