Compare towns
Nottingham vs South Hampton 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
Nottingham has the most affordable homes ($458k median).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Nottingham | South Hampton | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,357 |
984Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Nottingham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| South Hampton and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% 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 | $2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,869±$111Lowest 25% above NH |
| Nottingham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | South Hampton School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.