What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Topsham
People
Population	22,545Highest	9,706Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S.	44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S.
	Topsham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Topsham 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 U.S.: 35.7%	50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Topsham 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 32% above U.S.	$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Portsmouth and Topsham 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.	$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S.	$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Portsmouth and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Highest 157% above U.S.	$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Portsmouth and Topsham 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%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Portsmouth and Topsham 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	#66 of 133 in ME
School district	Portsmouth School District	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.