Compare towns
Rye vs Derry vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Rye | Derry | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
34,116Highest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| Rye and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.