Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Norwich vs Rye
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 renters (48.1% rent).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Norwich | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
3,640Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Rye 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich 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 32% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kLowest 92% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519Lowest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Norwich School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | 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.