Compare towns
Newington vs Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Dover
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 homeowners (86.9%).
Portsmouth has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Newmarket | Portsmouth | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
9,463 |
22,545 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| 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% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 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% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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 |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below 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 |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% 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 |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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 | — | #39 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
11.4 |
12.7Highest |
| 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.