What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wolfeboro has the most homeowners (78.1%).

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	Wolfeboro
People
Population	22,545Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±2Lowest about the NH average	57±1.8Highest 32% above NH
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Highest NH: 18.2%	13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Portsmouth and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64%Highest NH: 40.6%	45%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Portsmouth and Wolfeboro 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 7% above NH	$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH
	Portsmouth and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH	$546,500±$60kLowest 36% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH	$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Highest 20% above NH	$4,531Lowest 32% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%	12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	24 minHighest 11% below NH
Work from home	21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Wolfeboro 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	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Portsmouth School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.