Portsmouth, NH vs Olympia, WA: where should you move?
Portsmouth: No income tax NH coast; priced accordingly. Olympia: Capital-town Puget Sound at a discount.
Dimension
Portsmouth
Olympia
Median home price
$600K
$534K
Effective property tax
1.93%
0.87%
Tax friendliness
8/10
9/10
Winter mildness
3/10
4/10
Summer comfort
9/10
10/10
Walkability
4/10
5/10
Outdoor access
7/10
8/10
Culture & food
6/10
5/10
Healthcare
6/10
5/10
Airport connectivity
9/10
9/10
Schools
8/10
7/10
Safety
8/10
7/10
Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk)
9/10
5/10
Growth trajectory
7/10
7/10
Pick Portsmouth if your priorities lean: Culture & food, Healthcare, Schools, Safety. Pick Olympia if they lean: Median home price, Effective property tax, Tax friendliness, Winter mildness. There is no universal winner — only a winner for your weights.