Compare towns
Portsmouth vs North Hampton 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).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | North Hampton | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
4,543Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton 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% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and North 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 |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$655,400±$36kLowest 63% above NH |
| Portsmouth and North Hampton 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 |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Stratham 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | North Hampton 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.