Compare towns
Newmarket vs Stratham vs Bedford vs Portsmouth
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 most affordable homes ($455k median).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Stratham | Bedford | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
7,754Lowest |
23,746Highest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Bedford 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% 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±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Stratham and Bedford 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bedford School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | Bedford High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.