Compare towns
Plymouth vs Portsmouth vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% 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 | Plymouth | Portsmouth | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,969Lowest |
22,545 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Keene and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.7% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 8 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 39% below NH |
22 minHighest 17% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Portsmouth School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Portsmouth High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.