Compare towns

Newington vs Franconia vs South Hampton 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).
Franconia has the most affordable homes ($530k median).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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.

MeasureNewingtonFranconiaSouth HamptonPortsmouth
People
Population
939Lowest
1,060
984
22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%
NH: +4.6%
-1.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
48.7±10.1
12% above NH
55.6±7Highest
28% above NH
45.1±5.3
4% above NH
42.9±2Lowest
about the NH average
Franconia and Newington 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%
15.2%±5.5
NH: 18.2%
23.3%±5.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
South Hampton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±11
NH: 20.1%
36.6%±6.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
Franconia and Newington 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%
57.9%
NH: 40.6%
52.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8
NH: 6%
5%±5.4Highest
NH: 6%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2
NH: 6%
Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$145,833±$46k
47% above NH
$87,292±$28kLowest
12% below NH
$152,500±$44kHighest
54% above NH
$106,219±$7k
7% above NH
South Hampton 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
$530,300±$96kLowest
32% above NH
$661,100±$45k
64% above NH
$688,500±$39k
71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,292±$795Highest
54% above NH
$1,281±$278Lowest
14% below NH
$1,889±$489
27% above NH
$1,869±$111
25% above NH
Newington and South Hampton 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
$7,451
12% above NH
$9,109Highest
37% above NH
$8,018
20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.9%±44
NH: 48.2%
73.2%±74.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
30%±40.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%
NH: 7.2%
11.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
6.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.9%
NH: 72.8%
83.1%
NH: 72.8%
88.6%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
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below NH
20 minLowest
25% below NH
28 minHighest
6% above NH
22 min
17% below NH
Work from home
8%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
11.9%±5.1
NH: 16.8%
17%±3.9
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4Highest
NH: 16.8%
Portsmouth and South Hampton 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 Newington School District Lafayette Regional School District South Hampton School District Portsmouth School District
High school in town None 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.