Compare towns
Portsmouth vs South Hampton vs Wilmot vs Kittery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
984Lowest |
1,487 |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
53±2.4Highest 36% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Wilmot 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% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery 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 32% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$117,759±$15k 46% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| 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 107% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$399,600±$43kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| 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 32% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,125±$289Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 157% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$6,651 113% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | — | — | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | South Hampton School District | — | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | — | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | — | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.