Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Wells vs Rye
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Wells | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
11,713 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Wells 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% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Wells 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% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Rye 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Rye 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.