Compare towns
Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Lyme
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 most affordable homes ($455k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Lyme has the most homeowners (80.5%).
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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,463 |
22,545Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme 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 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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 | — |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | Lyme School District |
| 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 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.