Compare towns
Newmarket vs Lyndeborough vs Somersworth 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
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Lyndeborough | Somersworth | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
1,616Lowest |
12,111 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Portsmouth 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% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Somersworth 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 |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Portsmouth 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 |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% 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 |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket 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 | — | #117 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Somersworth School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | Somersworth High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
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.