Compare towns
Newington vs Plymouth vs North Hampton 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%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
North Hampton has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | North Hampton | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
6,601 |
4,543 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| North Hampton 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and North Hampton 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% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,805±$106 21% 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 |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | North Hampton School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 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.