Compare towns
Newmarket vs Bow vs Norwich 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
Newmarket has the most affordable homes ($455k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Bow | Norwich | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
8,335 |
3,640Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 180% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,018Lowest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Bow School District | Norwich School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Bow High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.