Compare towns
Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Pembroke
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).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,463 |
22,545Highest |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Pembroke 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest 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±$13k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.4 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.