Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Durham vs Norwich
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 renters (48.1% rent).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
15,080 |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Lowest 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.