Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Meredith 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 expensive homes ($689k median).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Meredith | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
6,758Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
| Exeter 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 71% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.