Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Rye vs Somersworth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Rye | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
5,611Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth 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 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Somersworth 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±$7k 7% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Rye 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±$39k 71% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1972Highest 7 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.