City profile · New Hampshire · Census ACS 2023

Portsmouth, NH

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Portsmouth - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

22,332
Residents
$105,756
Median income
$640,600
Median home
$2,270
Median rent (state)

Portsmouth - the verdict

Portsmouth ranks in the 81st percentile for household income and the 47th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

81st
percentile, household income
91st
percentile, home value
89th
percentile, median rent
47th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Portsmouth, NH

22,332 people live in Portsmouth, New Hampshire - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $105,756 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.7%. Typical homes in Portsmouth are valued around $640,600, and the median resident age is 42.4 years. 63.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 65.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 113 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Stable), up 2% from five years earlier. Portsmouth reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1471.5 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

New Hampshire carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts New Hampshire at 104.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,270 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $307 across New Hampshire, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 17.5 minutes, with 67.0% driving alone and 20.7% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 85.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

22,332 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Hampshire

Median Household Income

$105,756 /yr

Poverty 2.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

104.2 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Hampshire average

How does Portsmouth compare to other US cities?

Here's how Portsmouth stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 81% higher than other cities
Home value 91% pricier than other cities
Median rent 89% pricier than other cities
Safety 47% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just New Hampshire and the picture shifts: Portsmouth ranks #38 of 53 New Hampshire cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Portsmouth's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in New Hampshire, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

81stIncome percentile
47thSafety percentile

81st percentile nationally for median household income · 47th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Portsmouth's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Portsmouth's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 46 Avg. percentile National median
Portsmouth's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Portsmouth's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$640,600 9th percentile more affordable than 9% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Portsmouth $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Portsmouth, NH Portsmouth, NH's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Portsmouth, NH-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Portsmouth, NH median $105,756/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Portsmouth, NH's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Portsmouth, NH. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 63.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
22,332
Median Income
$105,756
Median Home Value
$640,600
Median Age
42.4
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Labor force participation
65.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
63.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1471.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
187.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1284.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
21,500 residents22,000 residents22,500 residents23,000 residents23,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 21,990 residents 23,028 residents ▲ +4.7%
Portsmouth's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
113
housing units authorized
Single-Family
37
detached homes
Multifamily
76
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 111
2020 172
2021 241
2022 100
2023 97
2024 113

Permit volume increased 2% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.5 minutes
Drive Alone
67.0%
Carpool
4.3%
Public Transit
1.2%
Walk
5.0%
Work from Home
20.7%
Other
1.8%

Based on 12,583 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New Hampshire - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$105
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$307
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New Hampshire state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New Hampshire state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Portsmouth sits in

Cost of Living Index
104.2
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,270/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
85.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Hampshire

Keene
22,923 people
Derry
21,668 people
Laconia
16,982 people
Lebanon
14,759 people
Claremont
13,054 people
Londonderry
12,307 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Portsmouth's 22,332 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Foley, AL
22,330 people
Cudahy, CA
22,325 people
Marina, CA
22,324 people
Yorkville, IL
22,350 people
Hayesville, OR
22,309 people
The Crossings, FL
22,359 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Portsmouth's $105,756 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Rock Hill, NY
$105,750 median income
Munster, IN
$105,764 median income
East Hampton North, NY
$105,776 median income
Point Arena, CA
$105,726 median income
Nibley, UT
$105,726 median income
East Pasadena, CA
$105,714 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Portsmouth, NH Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Portsmouth, NH - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.5% White 87.6% Black or African American 1.1% Asian 3.9% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 2.6% Two or more races 4.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Portsmouth compares to nearby New Hampshire cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Portsmouth (this city) 22,332 $105,756
Keene 22,923 $78,183
Derry 21,668 $88,901
Laconia 16,982 $68,427
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NH FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Portsmouth, NH?

What is the population of Portsmouth, NH? +

22,332 people live in Portsmouth, NH according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Portsmouth, NH? +

Median annual household income in Portsmouth runs $105,756, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Portsmouth? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Portsmouth; the closest available measure is the New Hampshire state average, a cost of living index of 104.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New Hampshire vary by metro area.

Is Portsmouth, NH safe? +

Portsmouth has a total crime rate of 1471.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Portsmouth, NH? +

Portsmouth's median home value sits at $640,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.