Compare towns
Newmarket vs Lyme vs Franconia 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).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Lyme | Franconia | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
1,710 |
1,060Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Franconia and Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lyme 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 |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Lyme School District | Lafayette Regional 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.