Compare towns
Newmarket vs Holderness vs Mont Vernon 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
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
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 | Holderness | Mont Vernon | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
1,917Lowest |
2,636 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Newmarket 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 |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Holderness 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$9,432Highest 41% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | — | #4 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Holderness School District | Mont Vernon 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.