Compare towns
Newington vs Meredith 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 highest household income ($146k).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
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 | Meredith | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 939Lowest |
6,758 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
| Meredith and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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 |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.