What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).

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	Pembroke	Portsmouth
People
Population	7,438Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH	42.9±2Highest about the NH average
	Portsmouth and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%	14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Portsmouth and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	64%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%	3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6%
	Portsmouth and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH	$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH
	Portsmouth and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH	$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,589Lowest 14% above NH	$8,018Highest 20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Portsmouth and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest NH: 7.2%	6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 10 yrs older than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 8% below NH	22 minLowest 17% below NH
Work from home	17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8%
	Portsmouth and Pembroke 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	#85 of 120 in NH	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	Pembroke School District	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	Pembroke Academy	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.