Compare towns
Norwich vs Portsmouth vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Norwich | Portsmouth | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
22,545Highest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Portsmouth and Norwich 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 221% above U.S. |
$8,018Lowest 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #11 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.