Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Eliot vs Stratham
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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
7,146Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham 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±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 157% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.