Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Plymouth vs Durham
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 oldest population (median age 42.9).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($124k).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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.
| Measure | Portsmouth | Plymouth | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
6,601Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64% NH: 40.6% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 17% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Durham 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 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.