What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

Richmond has the most kids (21.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Portsmouth	Richmond
People
Population	22,545Highest	4,159Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S.	43.7±5.6Highest 12% above U.S.
	Richmond and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.5%±5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Portsmouth and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	59.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Portsmouth and Richmond 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.	$108,235±$24kHighest 34% above U.S.
	Richmond 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 107% above U.S.	$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111 32% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Highest 157% above U.S.	$6,868Lowest 120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Portsmouth and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Richmond 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	#5 of 70 in VT
School district	Portsmouth School District	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.