What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

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	Townsend
People
Population	22,545Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Portsmouth and Townsend 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%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend 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±$7kLowest 32% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend and Portsmouth 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.	$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S.	$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Portsmouth and Townsend 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.	$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend 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 U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#11 of 120 in NH	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Portsmouth School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	13.1Highest
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.