Compare towns
New Castle vs Portsmouth vs Rye vs Jackson
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 most renters (48.1% rent).
Rye has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Portsmouth | Rye | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 827Lowest |
22,545Highest |
5,611 |
897 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
60.5±2.5 40% above NH |
| New Castle and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±7.1 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Portsmouth 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% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth and Jackson 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 |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$688,500±$39kLowest 71% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89k 155% above NH |
$719,300±$109k 79% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,750±$1kLowest 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,509Highest 28% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Rye 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | New Castle School District | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | 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.