What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

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

Measure	Portsmouth	Somersworth
People
Population	22,545Highest	12,111Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±2Highest about the NH average	38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH
	Portsmouth and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Somersworth and Portsmouth 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%	14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64%Highest NH: 40.6%	31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Lowest 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±$7kHighest 7% above NH	$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH	$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH	$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Highest 20% above NH	$6,805Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Lowest 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%	11.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	57.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH	1967Highest 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	26 minHighest 3% below NH
Work from home	21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#11 of 120 in NH	#117 of 120 in NH
School district	Portsmouth School District	Somersworth School District
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	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.