Compare towns
Portsmouth vs White River Junction vs Bow
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 expensive homes ($689k median).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Bow has the most homeowners (87.5%).
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 | White River Junction | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
3,364Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Bow 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth and Bow 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 157% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | — | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | — | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.