Compare towns
Exeter vs Brookline vs Newfields 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
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Exeter | Brookline | Newfields | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
5,736 |
2,023Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Brookline and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 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 | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Brookline 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brookline School District | Newfields School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | — | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.