United States › New Hampshire › Portsmouth CITY · 2020 ACS
Portsmouth New Hampshire · 21,956 residents · 15.7 sq mi
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COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 21,956 people, Portsmouth is a city in New Hampshire. This is an unusually credentialed place: 61% of adults have a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $456,200, having more than doubled since 2000. Owners hold 52% of the housing stock. The median age is 42.8, about 4 years above the US median. Poverty is uncommon here, at 6.6% of residents.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.8
US median: 38.8
More educated
61% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 85%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K 22K 23K 25K 26K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Portsmouth Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $78,712
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,195 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $27,540 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 40.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 8.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 4.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.7%
Transportation & warehousing 2.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.5%
Education & health services 0.4%
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$456,200
+85%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $164,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,353
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $727 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 50.0% in 2000
48.3% rent
from 2.14 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 5.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 92.7%(19,263)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(280)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 86.9%(19,085)
Hispanic / Latino 3.4%(749)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 37 more ancestry groups with data from 41.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 91.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 83.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 74.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 46.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 10.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 38.8%(3,813)
Women 15+
Never married 30.8%(3,050)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 10.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 15.4%(210)
Gulf War (1990s) 18.6%(254)
Share of the 1,366 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Portsmouth Head to head
Compare Portsmouth to nearby cities PORTSMOUTH VS
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PORTSMOUTH VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Portsmouth, New Hampshire? Portsmouth, New Hampshire has about 21,956 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Portsmouth, New Hampshire? The typical household in Portsmouth, New Hampshire earns about $78,712 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 $456,200, and the typical rent is about $1,353 a month.
How educated are people in Portsmouth, New Hampshire? About 61.4% 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 6.6% 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 3,969 residents, a change of about -15 percent over that period.
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