Compare towns
Portsmouth vs South Hampton vs Wilmot
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 most renters (48.1% rent).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | South Hampton | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
984Lowest |
1,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Wilmot 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilmot and Portsmouth 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% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth and Wilmot 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 7% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| South Hampton and Wilmot 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 |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth 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 |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Wilmot 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 | — | — |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | South Hampton School District | — |
| 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 | 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.