Compare towns

Newington vs Hillsborough vs Hopkinton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hopkinton has the most people working from home (23.8%).
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.

MeasureNewingtonHillsboroughHopkintonPortsmouth
People
Population
939Lowest
5,980
6,037
22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
48.7±10.1Highest
12% above NH
40.9±4.6Lowest
6% below NH
45±2.8
4% above NH
42.9±2
about the NH average
Newington and Hopkinton 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%
17.4%±4.6
NH: 18.2%
18.8%±4.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Hopkinton and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±11Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.4%±3.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.9%±4.2
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%
23.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
58.2%
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
7.9%±4.4Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2
NH: 6%
Hopkinton 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±$46kHighest
47% above NH
$84,495±$12kLowest
15% below NH
$137,477±$21k
39% above NH
$106,219±$7k
7% above NH
Newington and Hopkinton 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
$272,300±$16kLowest
32% below NH
$506,900±$54k
26% above NH
$688,500±$39k
71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,292±$795Highest
54% above NH
$1,198±$390Lowest
20% below NH
$1,270±$129
15% 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
$5,815Lowest
13% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,018
20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.9%±44Highest
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±23.1
NH: 48.2%
42.4%±6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
Newington and Hillsborough 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%
6%
NH: 7.2%
6.5%
NH: 7.2%
6.8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.9%
NH: 72.8%
92.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
87.3%
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1968
11 yrs older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below NH
41 minHighest
54% above NH
22 minLowest
17% below NH
22 minLowest
17% below NH
Work from home
8%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
14%±5.2
NH: 16.8%
23.8%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4
NH: 16.8%
Hopkinton 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 — #97 of 120 in NH #28 of 120 in NH #11 of 120 in NH
School district Newington School District Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District Hopkinton School District Portsmouth School District
High school in town None in town Hillsboro-Deering High School Hopkinton High School Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.5Lowest
12.0Highest
11.4
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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.