Compare towns
Lee vs Newington vs Portsmouth vs Wilmot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | Lee | Newington | Portsmouth | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
939Lowest |
22,545Highest |
1,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
| Wilmot and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| Newington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,651 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 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 | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
23 min 13% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington School District | Portsmouth School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 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.