Compare towns
New Castle vs Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | New Castle | Newmarket | Portsmouth | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 827Lowest |
9,463 |
22,545Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,509 28% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle 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 | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | New Castle School District | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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.