Compare towns
Newington vs Madbury vs Keene 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).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Portsmouth has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | Madbury | Keene | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
2,203 |
22,939Highest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Madbury 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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 | — | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
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.