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Living in
Portsmouth.
About
Life in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a community of 22,332 people in New Hampshire. The median household income is $105,756, median rent runs about $1,869 per month, and median home values are around $688,500. Unemployment is low at 3.0%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Portsmouth at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Foreign-Born
9.6%
Broadband Internet
94.6%
of households
Population Growth
+4.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.6% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Portsmouth: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Portsmouth, the largest foreign-born group is from India (12.2%), and 2.7% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
14.0%
of residents
65 and Older
21.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
15.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.8%
of households
Married Couples
38.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.02
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% above NH average
Rent, home values, and income in Portsmouth
In Portsmouth, rent runs 25% above the NH average, and home values are 71% above the NH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,018
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $790,971 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NH
Unemployment in Portsmouth
Unemployment in Portsmouth is close to the NH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Portsmouth Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.2 min avg
How Portsmouth residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Portsmouth, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM)
Regional airport · few flights91k passengers boarded in 2025
- 51 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 38% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Portsmouth runs 38% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
203
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,140.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Portsmouth Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Rockingham County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Rockingham County, which includes Portsmouth, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $45.2M |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.5M |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $175,000 |
| 2020 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $275,000 |
| 2019 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2018 | 19 | Heavy Snow | $3.1M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Rockingham County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Rockingham County, which includes Portsmouth, is typically good — 309 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
309
per year
Moderate Days
54
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Rockingham County, county-wide
Climate78°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Portsmouth has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.4"
Annual Snowfall
55.8"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
143
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 16°F | 3.63" |
| Feb | 36°F | 18°F | 3.57" |
| Mar | 43°F | 25°F | 4.77" |
| Apr | 56°F | 35°F | 4.56" |
| May | 66°F | 45°F | 3.95" |
| Jun | 75°F | 54°F | 4.59" |
| Jul | 81°F | 60°F | 3.89" |
| Aug | 79°F | 59°F | 3.66" |
| Sep | 72°F | 52°F | 4.08" |
| Oct | 60°F | 41°F | 4.95" |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 4.12" |
| Dec | 38°F | 22°F | 4.88" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Portsmouth
Portsmouth has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
York Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.8 mi away · York
Exeter Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Exeter
Wentworth-douglass Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.6 mi away · Dover
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Portsmouth
Portsmouth's student/teacher ratio is 11.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 64.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
64.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Portsmouth
Public · 2-year · 1,259 students · in-state tuition $7,650 · 36% graduate · median earnings $54,240 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
9.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,261 students · in-state tuition $19,682 · 78% graduate · median earnings $71,477 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Salem Maritime National Historical Park, 38 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Portsmouth
Portsmouth has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Salem Maritime National Historical Park (38 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
38 mi awayLowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
39 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
42 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
49 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
50 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
50 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
50 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
52 mi awayPublic Libraries in Portsmouth
Portsmouth Public Library
175 Parrott Avenue, Portsmouth
Cities Near Portsmouth
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Portsmouth?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Portsmouth FAQ
Is Portsmouth, New Hampshire affordable?⌄
Portsmouth's median rent is $1,869/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $106,219/year. Median home value is $688,500.
Is Portsmouth, New Hampshire safe?⌄
Portsmouth's violent crime rate was 203 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1140 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Portsmouth, New Hampshire?⌄
Portsmouth has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Portsmouth, New Hampshire?⌄
The cost of living in Portsmouth is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,869/month and median household income is $106,219/year. The median home value is $688,500. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Portsmouth, New Hampshire?⌄
The average commute in Portsmouth is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from