Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Durham vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Portsmouth | Durham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545 |
15,080Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
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%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3 |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.