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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Portsmouth

New Hampshire · 20,784 residents · 15.661 sq mi
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The short version

Portsmouth has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $45,195. Population has fallen 20% since 1990, a loss of 5,141 residents. 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 24%. Median home value is $164,500.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.5
US median: 35.2
More educated
42% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,784
−20%since 1990
from 25,925 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
38.5
+24%since 1990
from 31.1 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K22K23K25K26K1990201020202024Portsmouth
202423K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 54.9%(1,009)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 94.7%(981)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 144.8%(997)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 194.3%(886)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 245.7%(1,187)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3419.3%(4,002)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4417%(3,524)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5414.2%(2,952)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 649%(1,862)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 747.8%(1,629)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 845.8%(1,215)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.6%(540)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,195
+12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $30,591 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,540
+77%since 1990
from $15,557 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
9.3%
+2.6 ptssince 1990
from 6.7% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$164,500
−9%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $137,800 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$727
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990
from $553 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
50.0%
+8.1 ptssince 1990
from 41.9% in 1990
50.0% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Portsmouth on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic92.4%(23,945)
Black4.8%(1,255)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(585)
Asian1.6%(414)
2000
White, non-Hispanic92.7%(19,263)
Black2%(416)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(280)
Asian2.4%(507)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican0.8%(191)
Mexican0.5%(122)
Dominican0.5%(114)
Spaniard0.2%(56)
Colombian0.2%(54)
Chilean0.2%(52)
Paraguayan0.2%(48)
Peruvian0.2%(46)
Cuban0.1%(25)
Asian origin
Chinese1.4%(326)
Asian Indian1.2%(279)
Korean0.7%(155)
Filipino0.3%(72)
Thai0.2%(44)
Cambodian0.1%(33)
Pacific Islander origin
Fijian0%(8)
Ancestry
Irish21.7%(4,899)
English21%(4,739)
German9.5%(2,137)
Italian9.4%(2,110)
Scottish5.8%(1,313)
French5%(1,133)
French Canadian4.5%(1,016)
American3.9%(874)
Polish3.8%(856)
Russian2.1%(482)
Swedish1.6%(357)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(302)
+ 33 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch1.2%(262)
Arab1%(215)
Welsh0.9%(207)
Lithuanian0.9%(203)
Finnish0.9%(193)
Norwegian0.8%(189)
Greek0.8%(185)
Portuguese0.8%(174)
British0.8%(171)
Ukrainian0.7%(163)
Danish0.5%(123)
Romanian0.5%(110)
Syrian0.5%(107)
Swiss0.4%(93)
Canadian0.4%(86)
Turkish0.3%(75)
Austrian0.3%(68)
Lebanese0.3%(62)
Brazilian0.2%(49)
Hungarian0.2%(43)
Czech0.1%(31)
Israeli0.1%(31)
Australian0.1%(29)
Iraqi0.1%(26)
Egyptian0.1%(20)
Slovak0.1%(16)
West Indian0.1%(16)
Haitian0.1%(13)
Slovene0%(10)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
41.9%
+15.4 ptssince 1990
from 26.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
91.4%
+2.6 ptssince 1990
from 88.8% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
13.9%
+6.0 ptssince 1990
from 8.0% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.7 min
−8%since 1990
from 17.0 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married35.4%(3,026)
Married49.2%(4,202)
Widowed3.9%(332)
Divorced11.5%(987)
Women 15+
Never married28%(2,588)
Married44.7%(4,132)
Widowed13.7%(1,267)
Divorced13.5%(1,250)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Drill deeper

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Pop 21,064
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Head to head

Compare Portsmouth to nearby cities

PORTSMOUTH VS
Hampton
Income$97,163+115%
Home value$545,300+231%
Population10,101−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTSMOUTH VS
Durham
Income$112,070+148%
Home value$498,000+203%
Population10,681−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTSMOUTH VS
Dover
Income$94,829+110%
Home value$436,700+165%
Population34,623+50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTSMOUTH VS
Exeter
Income$87,346+93%
Home value$357,500+117%
Population9,964−57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Portsmouth, New Hampshire?

Portsmouth, New Hampshire has about 20,784 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Portsmouth, New Hampshire?

The typical household in Portsmouth, New Hampshire earns about $45,195 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Portsmouth, New Hampshire expensive?

In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the median home is worth about $164,500, and the typical rent is about $727 a month.

How educated are people in Portsmouth, New Hampshire?

About 41.9% of adults age 25 and over in Portsmouth, New Hampshire hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Portsmouth, New Hampshire?

About 9.3% of people in Portsmouth, New Hampshire live below the federal poverty line.

Has Portsmouth, New Hampshire grown since 1990?

Yes, Portsmouth, New Hampshire has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 5,141 residents, a change of about -20 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →