Compare towns
Newfields vs Portsmouth vs Madbury vs Lyme
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).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Newfields | Portsmouth | Madbury | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
22,545Highest |
2,203 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Portsmouth 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 |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% 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±$111 25% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme 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.