Compare towns

Newfields vs Lee vs Portsmouth

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).

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.

MeasureNewfieldsLeePortsmouth
People
Population
2,023Lowest
4,576
22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.1±1.8Highest
about the NH average
42.9±1.9Lowest
about the NH average
42.9±2Lowest
about the NH average
Newfields and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
21.9%±5.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Lee and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.6%±0.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
Lee and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
50.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
64%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2Highest
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
Newfields and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
$131,579±$54k
33% above NH
$106,219±$7kLowest
7% above NH
Newfields and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34k
61% above NH
$480,600±$61kLowest
19% above NH
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% 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
$1,875±$323Highest
26% above NH
—
$1,869±$111Lowest
25% above NH
Newfields and Portsmouth 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
$9,661
45% above NH
$8,018Lowest
20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8
NH: 48.2%
38.3%±53.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2Highest
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
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
2.6%
NH: 7.2%
6.8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%
NH: 72.8%
95.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
1987
8 yrs newer than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
4% below NH
28 minHighest
about the NH average
22 minLowest
17% below NH
Work from home
25.5%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Lee and Newfields 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 — #3 of 120 in NH #11 of 120 in NH
School district Newfields School District Oyster River Coop School District Portsmouth School District
High school in town None in town None in town Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 10 photos → 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.