Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Durham vs Rye vs Exeter
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Rye | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
15,080 |
5,611Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Exeter 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% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Rye 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±$39k 71% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.