Compare towns
New Castle vs Portsmouth vs South Hampton vs Wilmot
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).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | Portsmouth | South Hampton | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 827Lowest |
22,545Highest |
984 |
1,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Wilmot 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%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Wilmot 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% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth and Wilmot 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 |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| New Castle and South Hampton 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±$39k 71% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,509 28% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | New Castle School District | Portsmouth School District | South Hampton School District | — |
| High school 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.