Compare towns
Durham vs Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newmarket has the most kids (15.6% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Newmarket | Portsmouth | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
9,463 |
22,545Highest |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Newmarket and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$100,845±$13k 25% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,734 180% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.9Lowest |
11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.