Compare towns
Newmarket vs Norwich vs Canaan vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Norwich | Canaan | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
3,640Lowest |
3,811 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Canaan 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan 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±$13k 25% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 180% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,985Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #83 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Norwich School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.