Compare towns
Newmarket vs Weare vs Plaistow 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
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Weare | Plaistow | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
9,170 |
7,861Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Weare 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% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow 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% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Weare 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 |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Weare and Plaistow 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 |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% 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 min 6% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | John Stark Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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.