Compare towns
Newmarket vs Kensington 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
Newmarket has the most affordable homes ($455k median).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% 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 | Kensington | Mont Vernon | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
2,009Lowest |
2,636 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon 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% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Kensington 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% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest 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% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% 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 |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below 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 |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 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 |
29 min 7% above NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 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 | Kensington 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.