Home Insurance in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
The median home value in Portsmouth is $688,500, 38% higher than the Rockingham County median.
The typical home in Portsmouth was built around 1959. About 51% of homes were built before 1960, about 29 points above Rockingham County's 22%. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild.
Housing in Portsmouth breaks down to 49% single-family homes, 34% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
61% of owner-occupied homes in Portsmouth carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 52% of occupied homes in Portsmouth are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 4%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
In Portsmouth, 51% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with propane and fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
What's the biggest home insurance risk near Portsmouth? FEMA's National Risk Index points to coastal flooding (Relatively High) in Rockingham County and Rockingham County had 3,731 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Rockingham County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Flood damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in New Hampshire is $1,300 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $688,500 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1959 |
| Owner-occupied share | 52% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 61% |
| Top county hazard | Coastal Flooding (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Rockingham County | 3,731 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,300 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)