Compare towns
Lyme vs Madbury 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
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Newmarket has the most affordable homes ($455k median).
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 | Lyme | Madbury | Newmarket | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,203 |
9,463 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Madbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | — | #39 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.