Compare towns

Newmarket vs Newington vs Portsmouth vs Somersworth

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newington has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Portsmouth has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.

MeasureNewmarketNewingtonPortsmouthSomersworth
People
Population
9,463
939Lowest
22,545Highest
12,111
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+7.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.9
5% below NH
48.7±10.1Highest
12% above NH
42.9±2
about the NH average
38.4±2.7Lowest
11% below NH
Newington and Portsmouth 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%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.9%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Somersworth and Newington 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%
28%±11Highest
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Newington 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%
62.4%
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.8
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
4.9%±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
$145,833±$46kHighest
47% above NH
$106,219±$7k
7% above NH
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
Newington 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
$861,600±$46kHighest
114% above NH
$688,500±$39k
71% above NH
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,671±$69
12% above NH
$2,292±$795Highest
54% above NH
$1,869±$111
25% above NH
$1,477±$134Lowest
about the NH average
Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,734Highest
31% above NH
$6,081Lowest
9% below NH
$8,018
20% above NH
$6,805
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±8.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
62.9%±44Highest
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7
NH: 48.2%
Newington and Somersworth 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%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
6.8%
NH: 7.2%
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%
NH: 72.8%
86.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
57.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1967
12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above NH
23 min
13% below NH
22 minLowest
17% below NH
26 min
3% below NH
Work from home
17.3%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
8%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4Highest
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5
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 — #11 of 120 in NH #117 of 120 in NH
School district Newmarket School District Newington School District Portsmouth School District Somersworth School District
High school in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School None in town Portsmouth High School Somersworth 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.