Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Ashland vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Portsmouth | Ashland | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
2,183Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Portsmouth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and White River Junction 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Ashland School District | — |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.