Compare towns

Portsmouth vs Wilmot vs Eliot

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).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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.

MeasurePortsmouthWilmotEliot
People
Population
22,545Highest
1,487Lowest
7,146
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±2Lowest
10% above U.S.
53±2.4Highest
36% above U.S.
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
Wilmot and Eliot 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%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Wilmot and Eliot 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%
24.3%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Wilmot 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%
58.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Portsmouth and Wilmot 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.
$117,759±$15kHighest
46% above U.S.
$101,522±$10kLowest
26% above U.S.
Wilmot 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.
$399,600±$43kLowest
20% above U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,869±$111
32% above U.S.
$1,125±$289Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
Eliot and Portsmouth 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.
$6,651
113% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.4%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
41.1%±41.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Portsmouth 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%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.9%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Portsmouth and Wilmot 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 — #19 of 133 in ME
School district Portsmouth School District — RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Portsmouth High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4
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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.