Compare towns
Newmarket vs Newington vs Lee 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).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Newington | Lee | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
939Lowest |
4,576 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Newington and Lee 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% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Newington 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% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Lee 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 |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Newington and Lee 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 |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
— | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Newington 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 |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Newington School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 photos → | 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.