Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Somersworth vs Rye vs Exeter
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Somersworth | Rye | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
12,111 |
5,611Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 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% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Somersworth 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 |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Rye and Exeter 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 |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Somersworth School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Somersworth High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 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.