Compare towns
Newmarket vs South Hampton vs Portsmouth vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Portsmouth has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | South Hampton | Portsmouth | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
984Lowest |
22,545 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| South Hampton 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth 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 |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Portsmouth and South Hampton 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 |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | South Hampton School District | Portsmouth School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
12.3Highest |
| 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.