Compare towns

Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Eliot

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newmarket has the most affordable homes ($455k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Eliot has the most homeowners (79.8%).

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.

MeasureNewmarketPortsmouthEliot
People
Population
9,463
22,545Highest
7,146Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.2±1.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
42.9±2
10% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
Eliot 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%
14%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Eliot and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
64%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newmarket and Portsmouth 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
25% above U.S.
$106,219±$7kHighest
32% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
Portsmouth and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$455,000±$22kLowest
37% above U.S.
$688,500±$39kHighest
107% above U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,671±$69Lowest
18% above U.S.
$1,869±$111
32% above U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,734Highest
180% above U.S.
$8,018
157% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±8.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.4%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
7% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
Work from home
17.3%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Portsmouth and Eliot 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 #19 of 133 in ME
School district Newmarket School District Portsmouth School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School Portsmouth High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
11.4Highest
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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.