Compare towns
Newington vs Henniker vs Bow 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).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Bow | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
6,197 |
8,335 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
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% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 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% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Bow 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 |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above 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 |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | — | #56 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Henniker School District | Bow School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.