What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).

Dorchester has the most homeowners (96.3%).

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	Dorchester
People
Population	22,545Highest	410Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	42.9±2Lowest about the NH average	56±10.5Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Highest NH: 18.2%	11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Portsmouth and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Dorchester 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 NH: 40.6%	35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Portsmouth and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,219±$7k 7% above NH	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH	$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111 25% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Highest 20% above NH	$3,779Lowest 43% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Portsmouth and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	18.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	40 minHighest 50% above NH
Work from home	21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Portsmouth and Dorchester 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	—
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
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.