What stands out worked out from the figures below

White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).

Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).

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	White River Junction	Portsmouth
People
Population	3,364Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S.	42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	White River Junction and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	64%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S.	$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S.	$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S.	$8,018Highest 157% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.4%±7.2Highest 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	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	51.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 42% below U.S.	22 minHighest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Portsmouth and White River Junction 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
School district	—	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	—	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.