Compare towns
Newmarket vs Durham vs Kensington 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Portsmouth has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Newmarket | Durham | Kensington | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
10,681 |
2,009Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kensington 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington and Newmarket 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Kensington 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Kensington 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Kensington 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | — | Kensington 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 | 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.