Compare towns
Newmarket vs Brentwood 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).
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Brentwood | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,463 |
4,641Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Brentwood 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% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Brentwood 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% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Portsmouth 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 |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Brentwood and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Brentwood School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.