Compare towns
Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Stratham vs Somersworth
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Stratham | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
22,545Highest |
7,754Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% 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%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Somersworth 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| 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 about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below 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 |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Somersworth 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | 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 |
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.