At the north end of New Hampshire's brief coastline lies Portsmouth, the hub of a sprawling but lightly developed metropolitan region. The city has a population of 23,000 and sits at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. This is the natural feature that acts as a border between Maine and New Hampshire.

Being a port city with access to the Atlantic, shipping activity makes up a big part of life in Portsmouth. In fact, the city's love affair with ships dates back to 1623. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the country's first ever Naval Shipyard, while John Paul Jones' ship "The Ranger" was built here.

But shipping isn't the only thing going on here. Rail and highway connections mean that Portsmouth is a crticial stop for many travelers in the busy Insterstate corridor. Bus service to Boston's Logan International Airport connects visitors directly with the rest of the world. Fine restaurants, shopping, and attractions factor in to increase the variety of things to do while living and working in this fine historic city.

If you're looking for a great place to raise a family, with easy travel times to both Portland Maine and Boston, Massachusetts, then Portsmouth New Hampshire is your ideal middle ground!