66 High Street
Guilford, Connecticut
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
What It Is Like to Retire in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a small and very old town of just over 20,000 in eastern New Hampshire, right on the Maine border. Portsmouth has a tremendous amount going for it as a retirement town. There is a charming old downtown with lots of great shops and restaurants, cobblestone streets, historic seaport, plenty of water to live near, and a relatively mild climate thanks to its presence on the coast. It was named as one of the "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Because Portsmouth was so important as a seaport and shipbuilding center, its early days were as a very wealthy town. The beautiful homes and buildings constructed during that era represent the colonial, georgian, and federal styles - many of the surviving mansions are now open to the public. After many tragic 19th century fires, a building code went in requiring brick and slate construction in the downtown district.
Shipbuilding is still important across the Piscataqua River at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. Durham, home to the University of New Hampshire, is another lovely town about 15 minutes inland.
Where to Retire in Portsmouth and Home Prices
According to Zillow, the median home value was $684,048 in mid-2023.
What Is Special about Portsmouth
Historic seaport and beautiful town with rich heritage. Stock of colonial and early American homes in federal, Georgian, and colonial styles. Great shops, museums, and old mansions to tour - Portsmouth is a big tourist town. Strawberry Banke, Market Square, Portsmouth Lighthouse, the Music Hall, USS Albacore Museum (test submarine). Portsmouth has a very active literary scene with many famous authors nearby, plus the RiverRun Indie Bookstore.
What Is Not Special about Portsmouth
The downtown can get pretty crowded in the height of the tourist season.
Who Will Like Retirement in Portsmouth
Portsmouth attracts people who like historic towns that have a lot of charm. Folks who like living near the water will also like it.
Local Economy Is Driven by
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, tourism, health care, nearby presence of UNH, and many hi-tech companies all contribute to the economy.
Climate and Physical Environment
Portsmouth is located near the mouth of the Piscataqua River as it enters the Atlantic Ocean on the Maine border. To the west is an enormous bay, the Great Bay.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
The Historical Society is very active, as is the Athenaeum, the Music Hall, has a popular author series that attracts big names, and many old house museums like the John Paul Jones House. The RiverRun Bookstore. Here is what writer Dan Brown said about Portsmouth: "Thanks to places like the Music Hall, Phillips Exeter Academy, and our great indie bookstores, the Seacoast literary scene thrives in ways usually seen only in the largest cities. As a writer, I'm grateful every day for the luxury of accessing world-class cultural events without sacrificing a tranquil writing environment."
Crime
The crime rate in Portsmouth is about half the national average.
Medical facilities
Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Transportation
I 95 runs through Portsmouth. Airports in Portland (ME) and Boston are about an hour away. There is an AMTRAK bus stop in Durham
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