Compare towns

Newmarket vs Somersworth vs Portsmouth vs Newfields

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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.

MeasureNewmarketSomersworthPortsmouthNewfields
People
Population
9,463
12,111
22,545Highest
2,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.9
5% below NH
38.4±2.7Lowest
11% below NH
42.9±2
about the NH average
44.1±1.8Highest
about the NH average
Newfields 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%
19.9%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
18.9%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
Somersworth and Newfields 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%
14%±3
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.7%
NH: 40.6%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
64%
NH: 40.6%
68.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
7.5%±7.2Highest
NH: 6%
Newfields and Newmarket 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
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
$106,219±$7k
7% above NH
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$455,000±$22k
13% above NH
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
$646,400±$34k
61% above NH
Portsmouth and Newfields 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
$1,477±$134Lowest
about the NH average
$1,869±$111
25% above NH
$1,875±$323Highest
26% above NH
Newfields and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,734
31% above NH
$6,805Lowest
about the NH average
$8,018
20% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±8.3
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Somersworth 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%
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
6.8%
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%
NH: 72.8%
57.8%
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1967
12 yrs older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above NH
26 min
3% below NH
22 minLowest
17% below NH
26 min
4% below NH
Work from home
17.3%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4
NH: 16.8%
25.5%±3.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
Newfields 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 #117 of 120 in NH #11 of 120 in NH —
School district Newmarket School District Somersworth School District Portsmouth School District Newfields School District
High school in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School Somersworth High School Portsmouth High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
11.4Highest
11.4Highest
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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.