What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).

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	Bennington
People
Population	22,545Highest	15,249Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S.	44.7±2.3Highest 15% above U.S.
	Bennington 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 U.S.: 22%	17.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bennington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bennington 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%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bennington 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±$7kHighest 32% above U.S.	$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S.	$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S.	$1,133±$63Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Highest 157% above U.S.	$4,513Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bennington and Portsmouth 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%	13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	58.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 16% below U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Portsmouth and Bennington 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	#58 of 70 in VT
School district	Portsmouth School District	Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.