| Measure | PortsmouthNew Hampshire, United States Remove Portsmouth | LowellMassachusetts, United States Remove Lowell |
|---|---|---|
| Scores (out of 10) | ||
| Overall score | 5.5 | 6.1 |
| Connector Score | 8.3 | 7.7 |
| Safety | 8.6 | 6.3 |
| Affordability | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| Transportation | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Car-free friendliness | 4.5 | 5.5 |
| Walkability | 3.7 | 8.0 |
| Things to do | 5.1 | 6.2 |
| Food & dining | 5.1 | 5.7 |
| Places to stay | 4.9 | 6.0 |
| Nature & outdoors | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Scenic value | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Family friendliness | 7.7 | 4.8 |
| Solo-traveler friendliness | 5.6 | 6.1 |
| Nightlife | 2.8 | 4.7 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 4.6 | 5.4 |
| Road-trip convenience | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Train-trip convenience | 7.0 | 1.0 |
| Bus-trip convenience | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Cost (per person per day, USD) | ||
| Budget | $180 | $133 |
| Mid-range | $278 | $195 |
| Luxury | $485 | $332 |
| Living there | ||
| Cost of living index (national = 100) | 130 | 120 |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent | $1,900 | $2,100 |
| Median home price | $688,500 | $525,000 |
| Population | 23K | 116K |
| Getting there | ||
| Accessible by | Drive Train Airport | Drive Airport |
| Car recommended | — | — |
| Travel time from Portsmouth | — | 1 h 5 min details |
| Character | ||
| Best for | Families, Beaches | History |
| Known for | Beaches, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Food scene, Shopping, Family & kids | Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Food scene, Live music, Shopping |
| When to go | Peak: June through October, especially summer… | Peak: Late spring through fall |
Scores and costs are estimates from public data and our own research; check the city pages for sources and dates.