Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Newington vs Portsmouth vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopkinton has the most people working from home (23.8%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Hopkinton | Newington | Portsmouth | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,037 |
939Lowest |
22,545Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8 4% above NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Newington and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 11 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Bow 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Newington School District | Portsmouth School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.