Compare towns
Newington vs Durham vs Mont Vernon 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 expensive homes ($862k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Mont Vernon | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
15,080 |
2,636 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Newington and Mont Vernon 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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% |
50.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Newington 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 |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 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 | $6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newington 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer 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 |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.