Compare towns
Newmarket vs Pembroke vs Hooksett 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 youngest population (median age 41.2).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Pembroke | Hooksett | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
7,438Lowest |
15,057 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Pembroke 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Hooksett 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% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Hooksett 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% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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 about the NH average |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Hooksett 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 |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Pembroke School District | Hooksett School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.