Compare towns
Stratham vs Portsmouth vs Somersworth vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Stratham | Portsmouth | Somersworth | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
22,545Highest |
12,111 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Somersworth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Amherst and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Portsmouth School District | Somersworth School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Somersworth High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.