Compare towns
Madbury vs Newfields vs Portsmouth vs Holderness
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Madbury | Newfields | Portsmouth | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
2,023 |
22,545Highest |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Newfields and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | — | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | Portsmouth School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.