Seated on the banks of the Piscataqua River, Portsmouth is a small city with a large history. The third oldest city in the nation, Portsmouth is picturesque New England at its finest. Historic buildings line the walkable streets of Market Square and iconic tugboats lead ships in and out of Portsmouth Harbor. A close-knit community and scenic landscape define the area.
In addition to its rich history, Portsmouth boasts a vibrant cultural scene. Strawberry Banke Museum, Portsmouth Athenaeum, the Music Hall, and the New Hampshire Film Festival all contribute to the unique experience Portsmouth offers. Known for having more restaurant seats than people, Portsmouth is home to an active farm-to-table scene and heavily-frequented farmers market. Water Country Water Park is in town and nearby beach access is at Odiorne Point State Park and Hampton Beach State Park. The White Mountains are less than a two-hour drive away as well.
Just an hour away from Boston, Portsmouth provides simple travels and commutes with access to I-95 and Portsmouth International Airport.
Historic Market Square has been the heart of Portsmouth since the 1700s
The historic John Paul Jones House was built in 1758
The Governor Langdon House, built in 1784
The Governor Goodwin Mansion was built in 1811
As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Portsmouth, NH is $1,800 for a studio, $2,281 for one bedroom, $2,437 for two bedrooms, and $2,571 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Portsmouth has increased by 2.9% in the past year.
Looking to live by the water? Explore other coastal cities in New England.
Open to exploring your options? Discover other great cities in New Hampshire with our detailed guide.
Somewhat Walkable
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.
Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.
Public
Grades K-5
346 Students
Public
Grades K-5
259 Students
Mary C. Dondero Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
323 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
499 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,032 Students
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.
