Compare towns
Newington vs Durham vs Ashland 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
Newington has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Portsmouth has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Newington | Durham | Ashland | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
10,681 |
2,183 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Newington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | — | Ashland 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 | 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.