Compare towns
Newington vs Lee vs Franconia 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%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Lee | Franconia | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
4,576 |
1,060 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
55.6±7Highest 28% 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Franconia 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Newington and Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
— | $1,281±$278Lowest 14% 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lafayette Regional 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 | 10 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.