Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Francestown vs Newington vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Francestown has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Portsmouth | Francestown | Newington | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
1,398 |
939Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Francestown and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| Newington and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$408,200±$34kLowest about the NH average |
$861,600±$46k 114% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Francestown 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Newington School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.