Compare towns
Plymouth vs Portsmouth vs Somersworth
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 24.6).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601Lowest |
22,545Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% 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 | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Portsmouth School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Portsmouth High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.