Compare towns
Newington vs Plainfield vs Kensington 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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Plainfield | Kensington | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
2,522 |
2,009 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Newington and Kensington 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest 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% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Newington 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 |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| Kensington 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 |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Kensington 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Plainfield School District | Kensington 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 | 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.