Compare towns
Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Eliot vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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.
| Measure | Newmarket | Portsmouth | Eliot | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
22,545Highest |
7,146Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Somersworth and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%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% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 25% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below 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±$22k 37% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,477±$134Lowest 5% 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. |
$6,805 118% 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%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Eliot 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest 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% |
57.8% 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. |
1967 13 yrs 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | 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 |
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.