Best Life Index › States › New Hampshire › Cities › Portsmouth

New Hampshire city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Portsmouth?

What it costs to live in Portsmouth, and how it compares with other New Hampshire cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

45

7th best value in New Hampshire

How much you get for what you pay, versus other New Hampshire cities.

Overall livability

57

3rd overall in New Hampshire

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Portsmouth is home to about 21,897 people. A typical home runs $487,900 and a household earns around $91,900, a price-to-income ratio of 5.3. Among New Hampshire's cities, it ranks 7th for value and 3rd overall.

Portsmouth at a glance

Median home price

$487,900

9th in NH of 9

Median rent

$1,499/mo

Median household income

$91,900

Home price to income

5.3x

Unemployment

2.4%

1st in NH of 9

School rating

9/10

1st in NH of 9

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NH of 9

Walk score

1/100

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‹ See all top New Hampshire cities ranked  ยท  New Hampshire state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within New Hampshire only. Updated 2026.