What stands out worked out from the figures below

York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	York	Portsmouth
People
Population	13,986Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±5.2Highest 27% above U.S.	42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S.
	York and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	64%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Portsmouth and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,250±$25kHighest 50% above U.S.	$106,219±$7kLowest 32% above U.S.
	York and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$636,400±$30kLowest 91% above U.S.	$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S.
	Portsmouth and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,490±$336Lowest 5% above U.S.	$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S.
	Portsmouth and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,658Lowest 49% above U.S.	$8,018Highest 157% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	York and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	26%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	York 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	#13 of 133 in ME	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	York Public Schools	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	York High School	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	11.4Highest
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.