Compare towns
Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Plymouth vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
22,545Highest |
6,601Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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±$111 25% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.4 |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.