Compare towns
Concord vs New Castle vs Newmarket vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Concord | New Castle | Newmarket | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
827Lowest |
9,463 |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3Lowest 6% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Concord and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Concord and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 120 in NH | — | #39 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | New Castle School District | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.