Compare towns

Portsmouth vs Enfield vs Stratham

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).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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.

MeasurePortsmouthEnfieldStratham
People
Population
22,545Highest
4,475Lowest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-2.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.9±2
about the NH average
58.3±5.4Highest
35% above NH
41.6±4.9Lowest
4% below NH
Kids under 18
14%±1.9
NH: 18.2%
7.9%±4.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.5%±5.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
21.9%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
30.7%±7.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±3.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Enfield 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%
NH: 40.6%
43%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.2
NH: 6%
2.7%±3.4Lowest
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
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
7% above NH
$95,474±$19kLowest
4% below NH
$151,998±$20kHighest
53% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
$390,800±$71kLowest
about the NH average
$655,400±$36k
63% above NH
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±$111
25% above NH
$1,181±$563Lowest
21% below NH
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,018
20% above NH
$6,203Lowest
7% below NH
$9,781Highest
47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
17.8%±16.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
Stratham and Portsmouth 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%
16.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.1%
NH: 72.8%
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below NH
24 min
11% below NH
27 minHighest
about the NH average
Work from home
21.9%±4
NH: 16.8%
11%±5.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
25.3%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
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 #5 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH
School district Portsmouth School District Mascoma Valley Regional School District 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
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.