Compare towns
Newington vs Hopkinton vs Auburn 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).
Hopkinton has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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.
| Measure | Newington | Hopkinton | Auburn | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
6,037 |
6,119 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2Lowest 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% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Auburn 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 |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| Auburn 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 |
$506,900±$54kLowest 26% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Newington and Auburn 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 |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest 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% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1968 11 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hopkinton 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 | — | #28 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Hopkinton School District | Auburn School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hopkinton High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Highest |
— | 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.