What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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	Portsmouth	Bedford
People
Population	22,545Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+10%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±2Lowest about the NH average	45±2.2Highest 4% above NH
	Bedford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1%	20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Portsmouth and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64%Highest NH: 40.6%	63%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Bedford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH	$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH	$612,100±$26kLowest 52% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Lowest 25% above NH	$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH
	Bedford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Lowest 20% above NH	$9,803Highest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bedford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH	1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	25 minHighest 5% below NH
Work from home	21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bedford 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	#11 of 120 in NH	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Portsmouth School District	Bedford School District
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	13.5Highest
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.