Compare towns
Newmarket vs Stratham vs Swanzey 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 youngest population (median age 41.2).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Swanzey | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
7,754 |
7,398Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Swanzey 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% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Portsmouth 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Stratham 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 |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below 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±$69 12% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Stratham 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older 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 |
24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | Monadnock Regional High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
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.