What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).

Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($294k median).

Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Plymouth
People
Population	22,545Highest	4,969Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±2Highest about the NH average	22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Highest NH: 18.2%	13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Portsmouth and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1%	9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64%Highest NH: 40.6%	63.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH	$89,500±$32kLowest 10% below NH
	Portsmouth and Plymouth 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	$294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH	$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Highest 20% above NH	$6,483Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%	31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	17%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH	1971Highest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 17% below NH	16 minLowest 39% below NH
Work from home	21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#11 of 120 in NH	#47 of 120 in NH
School district	Portsmouth School District	—
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
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.