Compare towns
Newmarket vs Auburn vs Nottingham 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
Newmarket has the most affordable homes ($455k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Newmarket | Auburn | Nottingham | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
6,119 |
5,357Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Nottingham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Nottingham 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Auburn School District | Nottingham School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| 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.