Outlined by the Piscataqua River on the east side, Portsmouth is a small coastal city in New Hampshire adjacent to the Maine border. The area was originally settled by the Abenaki tribes until European colonists landed in the 17th century. Portsmouth soon became a seaport colony in the 1630s and was one of the most important shipbuilding cities in the country, including being home to the former Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Pease National Guard Air Force Base. Today, Portsmouth is considered a gateway and green city, with convenient transportation options and trails. Also known for its proximity to the Atlantic Coast, waterfront festivals and contemporary art scene, Portsmouth is a vibrant beach community that balances urban experiences with a suburban lifestyle. “Portsmouth is a city that punches above its weight with a lot of amenities and has a small-town feel,” says Monte Bohanan, Portsmouth’s director of communications and community engagement. “If you live here you can get to know anyone from the coffee shop’s barista to our mayor.” The area's workforce is concentrated in health care and social services, education, science and tech sectors. Top Employers include the US Dept of State Consular Center, Liberty Mutual, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Hospital – Portsmouth Regional Hospital and Lonza Biologics.
A view of the South End neighborhood and the Piscataqua River of Portsmouth, NH.
Badgers Island has all the details of a classic New England feel.
The N W Barrett Gallery is an established art gallery in the heart of downtown Portsmouth.
The Portsmouth Regional Hospital is both a major employer and community asset.
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Waterfront properties in Portsmouth continue to be in demand
Homes in Portsmouth can date to the 1800s, but most were built in the 20th century in eclectic New England, colonial-inspired and ranch styles. Many newer homes from the past several decades feature New Traditional or contemporary architecture. Multifamily properties are concentrated in the downtown area, and waterfront properties—be it single-family, condos or townhouses—continue to attract homebuyers. “There are lots of new developments happening along the Route 1 Corridor on the north side of the city,” Bohanan says. “The majority of homes are still single-family, but a good mix of condos and townhouses are spread throughout.”
The median home price is $839,900, which is nearly double the national median. Condos and townhouses typically start around $300,000 and $400,000, respectively. Luxury newer builds or penthouse units by the water may reach over $2.5 million. Single-family houses usually go between $400,000 and $1.2 million. Custom-built new construction homes with deeded waterfront access rights and private boat docks may fetch well over $5 million.
Most homes have waterfront view on Badgers Island.
Downtown Portsmouth is full of beautiful Colonial Revival styled homes around the area.
This well-maintained Farmhouse is nestled in Downtown Portsmouth.
Rows of Colonial and Victorian inspired homes line the streets of Portsmouth, NH.
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An A-rated public school system with the best public high school in the county
Portsmouth School District serves approximately 2,500 students and has an A Niche grade. The school system has an early education center, three primary schools, one middle and one high school, and the student-teacher ratio is 11-to-1. Portsmouth High also has the Career Technical Education Center, which provides students with career pathway programs in architecture, business, education, health science and more. The Community College System of New Hampshire, Great Bay Community College has a campus in Portsmouth and offers over 200 degree and certificate programs.
Little Harbour School in Portsmouth has a well maintained campus.
Portsmouth Middle School serves students from grades 6 through 8.
Portsmouth High School was founded in the year 1873.
The Great Bay Community College provides additional educational opportunities to residents.
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Lively establishments line around Downtown Portsmouth's Market Square
Eclectic stores, vintage shops, independent eateries and cafes are housed in historic brick buildings in the Portsmouth Downtown Historic District. From waterfront dining to visiting local bakeries and taverns, Downtown’s Market Square is the city’s most popular retail hub. Additional big-box stores, businesses and restaurants are located along Route 1.
Wild Valentine is both a local coffee shop and florist in the South End of Portsmouth, NH.
Many small and local boutique ships line the Downtown Portsmouth streets and draw many visitors.
Loaded Question Brewing Company is a small-batch craft brewery in Downtown Portsmouth.
From breakfast to dinner and drinks the Hearth Market is close by in Portsmouth, NH.
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Festivals by the waters and a vibrant art scene
As a coastal city, summers in Portsmouth are filled with lively events by the beach, including a concert series, a river festival and the Tall Ships Festival, featuring a parade of sailboats. The Annual Market Square Day has a traditional 10K road race, live entertainment and goods from over 150 local vendors. The Chowder Festival is a nearly 40-year custom in Portsmouth that kicks off the summer season.
At the heart of Downtown Portsmouth, residents will also discover a flourishing art and theatre scene, with historic museums boasting private art collections and innovative and traditional theatrical performances. These art venues range from the simple black-box theater at Player’s Ring to The Music Hall, an 1878 Victorian Landmark that continues to showcase performances, films and comedy. For 50 years, Prescott Park Arts Festival, a local non-profit dedicated to providing audiences with accessible art, has been bringing theatre, music and entertainment to the community. Historic houses such as the Strawbery Banke Museum serve as both heritage centers and contemporary exhibit spaces.
Waterfront parks and scenic trails are abound
Portsmouth has about 22 public parks, playgrounds, trails, several recreation centers and the 27-hole Pease Golf Course. Albacore Park is popular for its seasonal maritime museum, which features tours of the decommissioned USS Albacore submarine. The waterfront Prescott Park is home to many of the city’s summer festivities and community events. Locals regularly bring their pets to Urban Forestry Center for walks and playtime, and Water Country Water Park offers water slides and themed pools. Partially outlined by the Piscataqua River and with proximity to the Atlantic Coast, residents here can also go boating, fishing and swimming in the summer.
The Charles Hovey Fountain can be found in Downtown Portsmouth overlooking the river.
The popular South Mill Pond Playground is in the Downtown Portsmouth neighborhood.
People look over the Piscataqua River as it flows past the Downtown Portsmouth neighborhood.
Boating is a popular activity in Downtown Portsmouth.
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Proximity to Boston and Portland
Portsmouth is accessible via Interstate 95, U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 4 and New Hampshire Route 16. The state’s bus system, the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation, serves its seacoast region with routes in and out of Portsmouth. The nearest Amtrak station is in Dover, which is about 13 miles away, and Portsmouth International Airport at Pease has flights by Allegiant Airlines and Breeze Airways. Both Boston and Portland are about 55 miles away, and Portsmouth Regional Hospital is right in town.
Crime data from recent years
According to crime data from the state of New Hampshire, violent crimes in 2023 decreased by almost 22 percent compared to 2022. The overall property crime rate is on par with the state’s numbers, and is well below national figures. Specifically, larceny has gone down approximately 16 percent in 2023.
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