Compare towns
Newington vs South Berwick vs South Hampton vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | South Berwick | South Hampton | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
7,670 |
984 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick 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 81% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| South 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 159% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081 95% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and South Berwick 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | South Hampton School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.