Compare towns
Portsmouth vs White River Junction vs Wilder 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 expensive homes ($689k median).
White River Junction has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Kittery has the most homeowners (67.2%).
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 | Wilder | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
3,364 |
3,087Lowest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Kittery 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Kittery 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% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% 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% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Kittery 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. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Kittery 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. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Kittery 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. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% 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% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | — | — | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | — | — | 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.