Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Holderness vs White River Junction
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 expensive homes ($689k median).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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.
| Measure | Portsmouth | Holderness | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
1,917Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Holderness 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% |
14.7%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Holderness 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Portsmouth and Holderness 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. |
$107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Holderness and Portsmouth 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. |
$363,100±$60k 9% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Holderness and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and White River Junction 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 | — | — |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Holderness School District | — |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | 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.