Compare towns
Mont Vernon vs Newfields vs Portsmouth vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Mont Vernon | Newfields | Portsmouth | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,636 |
2,023Lowest |
22,545Highest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $526,300±$39kLowest 31% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% 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 | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Newfields and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,432 41% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mont Vernon School District | Newfields School District | Portsmouth School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.