Compare towns
Enfield vs Exeter 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
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newmarket has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Enfield | Exeter | Newmarket | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,475Lowest |
16,151 |
9,463 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,474±$19kLowest 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$71kLowest about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203Lowest 7% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Exeter 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.