What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).

Hampton has the most homeowners (73.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Portsmouth	Hampton
People
Population	22,545Highest	16,426Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±2Lowest about the NH average	55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Highest NH: 18.2%	11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Portsmouth and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64%Highest NH: 40.6%	42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Portsmouth and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH	$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH
	Portsmouth and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH	$550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH	$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Highest 20% above NH	$6,813Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	73.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	26 minHighest 3% below NH
Work from home	21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Portsmouth and Hampton 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	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Portsmouth School District	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.